American tour operator Bradley Paumen was taken back to court today, this time in Belmopan Magistrate's court where he was charged for the perversion of justice and the conspiracy to pervert justice. Three persons were charged along with him. They are mechanic Lisburn Anderson, who was charged previously, and two new faces. They are businessman Jahan Abadi of Belmopan, and Korean American Hyang Choing Park. She is the former common law wife of Michael Modiri - and she is now accused of being part of the wider plot to set up her ex.
All four of them appeared in Belmopan Magistrate's Court today where Paumen and Anderson were charged for planting a .22 rifle and 150 live rounds in Michael Modiri's vehicle in April, 2015. Park was charged with enlisting policeman Solomon Mas in February of 2015 - who was allegedly hired as the hitman. Abadi is also accused of facilitating a key to get into Modiri's vehicle so the weapon could be planted. Court finished just an hour ago - and here's what the Paumen's attorney Hebert Panton:
Jules Vasquez
"You are appearing along with Mr. Lindo for Bradley Paumen. What is your view on the charges that were brought today?"
Herbert Panton, Attorney for Bradley Paumen
"Well first of all when you look at the real facts that are appended to the information and complaint laid against my client, it's a whole lot of conjecture - on such a date information was received, the police investigated, but there is no meat. There is nothing to explain how that information was received. Who investigated? Who were interviewed when investigated? So at the end of the day it's a whole pile of hogwash. The unfortunate thing and this is always the unfortunate thing is that the police plays like they are shooting dice with people's freedom. They have no regard to depriving people of their freedom. Because at the end of the day Mr. Paumen is going to walk away from these charges. They are ridiculous. But in the process, this is the second time now he has to be dragged off to prison as though he is a common criminal for charges that cannot stand the light of day. It is ridiculous."
Jules Vasquez
"Now, will he lose his bail? He is supreme court bail."
Herbert Panton, Attorney for Bradley Paumen
"That is the other nonsensical thing. His bail conditions clearly says if he is arrested for any other offence, he is to be immediately brought before a justice of the Supreme Court. The magistrate has remanded him until the 8th March. Nonsense! He should have from 9am this morning, that man should have never been taken in in front of a judge of the Supreme Court."
Mike Rudon, Ch5
"But wouldn't then, because of that same condition, wouldn't his bail would have revoke anyway?"
Herbert Panton, Attorney for Bradley Paumen
"It is at the discretion of the judge of the supreme court. It's not revoke automatically. And it would not have been revoked because these charges stem from the same set of facts. It's not two separate things. This stems from the same set of facts. So bail would not have been revoked."
Jules Vasquez
"Sir, the magistrate spoke a number of times about how the case is being conducted. His dissatisfaction about how the proceedings went this morning. How do you feel? Mrs. Montejo expressed her reservations?"
Herbert Panton, Attorney for Bradley Paumen
"Well I was not here this morning, so I can't speak of what transpired this morning. But the magistrate is perfectly right. It is the prosecution who brought these charges. As far as I understand, a plea was taken from Mr. Anderson, he pled not guilty. A submission was made, submission simple that the matter was out of time and so it ought to be dismissed and the magistrate recused herself. Now, that information is vital at the very least this afternoon when a new magistrate walked into the courtroom. It was the responsibility of the prosecution who brought the case to court in the first place, to say to the magistrate this is what transpired this morning and for a defense counsel to do that - because now, the magistrate would have to regard that information a suspect, because the defense counsel is acting in interest of her client. It was the responsibility of the prosecution to bring that information to the attention of the magistrate this afternoon."
Mike Rudon, Ch5
"Sir, you say the charges stem from the same set of circumstances, but aren't they different? One of them he is allegedly being accused of hiring a hitman for 4 persons. The other one he is accused of planting a firearm or conspiring to plant a firearm in a vehicle. Two separate circumstances."
Herbert Panton, Attorney for Bradley Paumen
"At the end of the day its one breed of dogs. No other way to describe it - one breed of dog. Whether it is conspiring to murder or conspiring to plant a firearm or whatever the case may be - they all stem from a single set of circumstances."
As you heard, there were all kinds of procedural difficulties and twists and turns in today's hearing - most significantly the changing of the magistrate. The hearing which was first scheduled for 9:00 am before magistrate Ladonna John ended up being heard by the san Ignacio Magistrate Hoare - who had to be brought in because she recused herself. He didn't start hearing the matter until after 4:00 and adjourned at 5:10 pm before everything could be settled. So, everyone was detained overnight - until the matter continues tomorrow. Paumen and his mechanic Lisburn Anderson left the court in handcuffs - and his bail could be revoked because a condition of his Supreme Court bail is that he face no additional charges. These are new charges so - he could have his bail forfeited.
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