7 News Belize

Renaldo Verde, In His Own Words
posted (February 7, 2014)
For 5 weeks, now, we've been reporting on the case of senior Sales Tax Collector Reynaldo Verde, who escaped criminal charges when Glock 380 pistol was allegedly found in the washroom of his residence.

Verde was never charged because police concluded that someone planted it there. And today after a month of mauling in the media where his name has become synonymous with uneven treatment under the law, Verde released a statement in an advertisement in today's issue of the Amandala.

Verde says, quote, "I have been restrained in the last few weeks hearing my name brought up in an attempt to charge me for an apparent crime I did not commit. I can no longer sit quietly by and accept the defamatory statements to be repeated. The media has also perpetuated mistaken facts, and have become the unwitting vehicle to achieve a third party's aim of having me removed from office." End Quote. He adds, "In my line of work there have been instances of large business interests making threats from time to time." He adds that these business interests have threatened to try to remove him, which he has reported to police, and which is being investigated.

Verde then goes on to state categorically that no gun was found in his house. He says that it was found in the wall of an outer shed which is on the property line that adjoins his and 3 other properties. He says that this shed could not be accessed from his property, and he claims that police found footprints and a broken post, signs he says that someone planted the weapon. He explains that on the night in question, he heard his dogs barking, and and saw a person he believed was a thief. When police showed up at his house early the next day, he thought it was to investigate the "thief", and that's when the officers informed him that they received a call that an illegal weapon was on his premises. Verde says that the officers knew exactly where to find the gun in the shed.

Verde finishes up by averting to a conspiracy:

Quote, "I have been a public servant for 23 years - as long as Gino Peck - and agree with all those people rallying on his behalf who wish to change the gun laws of Belize. None other than the Director of public prosecutions' press release corroborates that Police should investigate before charges are laid I continue to assist the police, the GST Department and other agencies to uncover the real criminals, especially those who continue to hide behind business legitimacy. I have instructed my attorney to commence legal proceedings the next person that chooses to slander or defame me." End quote.

Verde has twice been charged for shooting persons with his licensed firearm.

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