By Belize Live News Staff: A disturbing incident within the Belize Police Department has raised serious concerns about accountability and justice within the force. A female police constable was assaulted by a male colleague, Constable Elvin Ek, in Belmopan after a group of officers returned from a recreational trip. The attack left her with injuries classified as “harm” and requiring ongoing counseling.
Despite the severity of the assault and the evidence against Constable Ek, including a text message where he admits to the beating, the disciplinary case against him was dismissed by a police tribunal. This decision has left the victim feeling further traumatized and disillusioned with the system that is supposed to protect her.
Adding to the injustice, the victim alleges that personnel from the Professional Standards Branch, the unit responsible for investigating police misconduct, actively pressured her to drop the case in exchange for a thousand dollars. When she refused, the disciplinary case against Constable Ek quickly fell apart.
The criminal case against Constable Ek is still pending and is scheduled to go back to court in October. However, the fact that the police are prosecuting the case while also seemingly protecting the accused raises questions about the integrity of the investigation and the likelihood of a just outcome.
