Belize Opposition legislator Patrick Faber is insisting that his latest arrest on costs of assaulting a police officer and obstructing the officer from performing his duties is politically motivated.
Faber, who was detained after a police incident on Tuesday, denied the allegations, calling them an try and embarrass him. “Clearly it’s to attempt to carry embarrassment and disgrace,” Faber stated, including, “I’m saying for the report that I’m not responsible of these costs and we are going to look ahead to the court docket for us to have our day and for that to be decided.”
The occasions resulting in Faber’s arrest unfolded when he allegedly sped by way of a checkpoint on the foot of BelChina Bridge, prompting a police chase. After pulling over Faber’s car, officers found it was unlicensed. When requested for his driver’s license, Faber claimed it was at residence and was subsequently adopted to his Belize Metropolis residence, the place he produced the license.
Nonetheless, in the course of the change, the police reported that Faber started recording the officer on his telephone, putting it uncomfortably near the officer’s face. The officer stated he felt threatened and repeatedly warned Faber that he was obstructing police duties, however the legislator continued.
Faber was detained and transported to the Queen Road Police Station for questioning earlier than being arraigned on the Belize Metropolis Magistrates Courtroom, the place he pleaded not responsible to each costs. “I simply suppose it’s politically motivated, a lot of it,” Faber reiterated after his court docket look. He additionally denied accusations that he had been driving drunk, stating that he had not consumed alcohol not too long ago, other than a single drink on his birthday.
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In his protection, Patrick Faber said that he complied with all police requests in the course of the cease, together with permitting officers to observe him to retrieve his driver’s license. He argued that his try and report the incident was to make sure an correct account of the interplay, notably in gentle of what he described as a “politically slanted” portrayal of occasions.
Faber additional emphasised that he had not confronted costs of aggravated assault in opposition to a police officer in practically 20 years, calling the present state of affairs a primary when it comes to being “focused due to politics.” He additionally questioned the motivation behind the fees, suggesting that the police might have selectively edited video footage to help their case.
Because the case strikes by way of the court docket system, Faber stays assured that the reality will prevail. “We are going to look ahead to the court docket to make its willpower,” he stated.
