7 News Belize

Northern PUP Politician's Driver Arraigned for Cane Field Arson
posted (May 20, 2015)

For the past 2 nights, we've been reporting on the allegation against 2 men who were suspected of burning cane fields belonging to ASR/BSI. Well, today they went to court charged for arson. They are Orange Walk residents Saulito Vasquez and Efrain Alpuche, the security guard for PUP politician Ramon Cervantez Jr. They were formally arraigned this afternoon, and our news team was in Orange Walk Town to get all the facts straight about this very serious allegation. Daniel Ortiz reports:

Daniel Ortiz Reporting….

After just over 46 hours on police locked down, Efrain Alpuche was finally allowed to leave the station a free man. He's now charged with arson for a fire he asserts he didn't commit.

Efrain Alpuche Jr. - Accused of Arson

"It's good to be out after 48 hours."

Daniel Ortiz

"Do you maintain your innocence in this?"

Efrain Alpuche Jr.

"Hell yes, I an innocent until proven guilty."

Daniel Ortiz

"Do you believe they can prove that you're guilty in this?"

Efrain Alpuche Jr.

"I don't think so, I don't see how."

Reporter

"Did you light the cane fields on fire?"

Efrain Alpuche Jr.

"No. In hindsight if I knew I would have got all this excitement, I should have."

Nevertheless he was formally charged and arraigned this evening.

Marcel Cardona - Attorney for the Accused

"Some 47 hours and 10 minutes after they were officially detained at the Orange Walk police station, Elfrain Alpuche and Saulito Vasquez were officially arraigned before magistrate Sharon Frazier at exactly 3:10 p.m today, Wednesday the 20th May 2015. Magistrate Frazier read them a single charge of arson upon 20 something acres of land belonging to Belize sugar industries, ASR. With a value of $40,000 belize dollars. The magistrate requested the prosecution to indicate that they were objecting to bail or not. The prosecution quite rightly indicated that this was not an offence which was not a non bailable offence. So bail was available if they were Belizeans, could prove they were Belizeans and not a flight risk - which was the case in this matter. So magistrate Frazier then decided that she was going to grant them bail for the amount of $40,000 Belize dollars given the extent of the alleged damage that was caused to the fields of Belize sugar industries limited."

Police aren't prepared to divulge what the evidence against the men is, but we have learned that the blue pickup truck that Alpuche was driving in - Ramon Monchie Cervantes' truck - is very important to the prosecution of this case

Supt. Dennis Arnold - OC, Orange Walk Police

"What happened with that pickup - it was alleged that it was on the site when the cane field was burnt. Part of that vehicle was left on the scene hence for the forensic analysis."

From Alpuche's perspective, the case is politically motivated.

Efrain Alpuche Jr.

"I hope I don't get myself into trouble. I would personally say it's political. Seeing the amount of man power that is here in this thing is amazing when a multinational company cries and all 7 worlds move. We would have loved to have this assistance 8 months ago when we were looking for Don. Ramon Cervantes had we have this cooperation. I guess we probably would have had found him earlier. But it is what it is."

Police are convinced that they have the right men for the burning of the cane fields.

Reporter

"Are you satisfied at this time that the persons you have in custody lighted that cane field on fire?

Supt. Dennis Arnold

"I don't want to cause any asportation, we are the police and we dealt with a report and I believe that the persons charged are the persons responsible."

Marcel Cardona

"I am very confident that the ending of the day when we get our day before the courts, we will be able to prove the innocence of both Efrain Alpuche and Saulito Vasquez."

Both men were released on bail of $40,000, and they must return to court on June 2.

One of the key7 pieces of evidence police have from the scene is a rearview mirror housing which fits Cervantez's vehicle and also offers a serial number match.

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