By Belize Live News Staff: New acting Minister of Home Affairs Julius Espat has stepped in to redirect the cyber-bullying case against Alberto August, ordering that the file be handed over to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
The move marks a notable shift in how the matter is being handled. The case had been dealt with as an internal police matter, despite an apparent conflict of interest, given that the complainant was former Minister of Home Affairs Oscar Mira, who at the time held responsibility for the police. With Mira now on a leave of absence from Cabinet, Espat says he wants the matter handled in the most independent way possible.
Speaking to 7News Belize by phone, Espat explained that he had concerns and spent time consulting before making the decision. “I had concerns. And so, I spoke to the Attorney General. I spoke to legal advisors that I have availability with. I spoke to other people,” he said. He concluded that the DPP, as the official responsible for the prosecution of matters before the court, should be the one to decide whether the charges should stand.
“I believe we have to give her the respect to be able to determine if the charges should be levied or not. And once she makes that decision, then we follow through,” Espat told 7News Belize, describing it as the most independent way of proceeding.
Espat also made clear that nothing further would happen in the meantime. Although the Commissioner of Police had indicated that police applied for a warrant, the minister said no action would be taken until the DPP makes her determination. He added that if the DPP advises that the matter is frivolous and cannot stand in court, “then the charges will be dropped and the devices will be returned immediately.”
The minister framed the case as a test of relatively new legislation. “I think that it’s a new law, and it has to be tested. And we wouldn’t want it to be abused. I’m not saying it has been abused, but let the court decide, let the DPP decide if it’s frivolous or not,” he said. Asked whether police had erred in proceeding without independent advice given the conflict of interest, Espat acknowledged, “That is a possibility. The optics of it is not a positive one, so let’s have somebody else look at it.”
The DPP, responding to 7News Belize, welcomed the decision. She described it as “a very mature, professional and sensible position to take,” and said she was heartened by the approach so early in Espat’s tenure. She expressed hope that it would be applied across the board and not only in this matter, adding that she looked forward to receiving the file.
August, a former UDP chairman, was charged under the Cybercrime Act following a complaint filed by Mira. That case is widely seen as the spark that preceded the wider controversy now surrounding Mira. August has maintained that he did nothing criminal, and with the file now headed to the DPP, the decision on whether the charge proceeds will rest with her office.
