For the past few weeks, we've been reporting on cases of crazy copper theft. But behind the inconvenience to all the consumers and the costs to utility companies, we've been wondering, where does it all go? For such persistent theft to occur there has to be a ready, waiting market.
Police may have found a piece of the puzzle at Maya Belize Recycling Company, located at mile 8 on the Western Highway. Police searched the place and say they found 963.5 pounds of copper and 755 pounds of aluminum - which are prohibited materials.
So, today in court Two Columbians , 35 year old Juan Carlos Cuellar and 31 year old Lina Nino along with Belizean 34 year old Wilfredo Cocom, were charged with 2 counts of possession of prohibited material.
Cuellar, the owner of the company, Cocom the manager, and Nino, the supervisor, were also charged with 5 counts of employing a person who is not a Belizean and 5 counts of employing a person not in possession of a work permit. They pleaded not guilty to the charges and were each released on bails of ten thousand dollars each. They are to return to court on August 16.
The prosecution had objected to bail for Cuellar and Nino on the ground that they are flight risks. But their attorney Dr. Elston Kaseke submitted that they have permanent resident status in Belize and it was confirmed by Immigration Officers who were present in court.
Cuellar has been living in Belize since February, 2004, and he has two children who were born in Belize. Nino has been in Belize since 2008.
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