A signed, official complaint was delivered to the Director of Immigration. Dr. Carlos Barrachina Lison, relative of Miss Bardalez along with Alejandro Monjaraz a friend of the women, (both English speakers)represented the women's claim of misconduct in an interview with 7news.

In the interview, Monjaraz named Edgar Cano as one of the officers involved in the alleged extortion and sexual assault, saying his name was given to the women by: (quote) ""people....on the Guatemalan side who knew…the immigration officers" In preparing the interview for broadcast, 7news attempted more than once to reach both the Director and Deputy Director of Immigration for a response to the allegations.

After these attempts failed, we then contacted the CEO of the Ministry, Allen Whylie who confirmed such a complaint had and directed the Director of Immigration to call us.

Deputy Director of Immigration, Maria Marin confirmed to 7 News the following day that in fact a formal complaint against at least two officers had been made, and that an internal investigation was in the process. Marin declined to confirm the names of the officers implicated.

In a letter dated Tuesday, December 20th, this station was put on notice by Cano's attorney Oswald Twist that "The allegations are without basis; based on hearsay and that the victims who clearly appeared to have been engaging in illegal behavior in trying to enter Belize without proper documentation and because they were caught in the act, seek to tarnish the name of Edgar Cano as well as others in Department of Immigration.

He says on the day in question Cano was indeed working at the Western Boarder Station but he had no direct contact with the so called victims. The only contact he had was through his subordinates who dealt directly with the alleged victims.