Police have arrested and charged a Belize City man for setting Deputy Prime Minister Patrick Faber's vehicle on fire. Allen Martinez - who was charged for arson 9 years ago - now stands charged again. Police say they are confident but strictly would not go into details.
Inspector Juanito Cocom - OC, Ladyville Police
"Twenty nine years old unemployed Allen Jovan Martinez from Central American Blvd Belize City was charged for the crime of arson on the 15th of October 2016."
Reporter
"Was that footage clear enough whereby you can definitively say that Mr. Allen is the person in that footage?"
Inspector Juanito Cocom - OC, Ladyville Police
"I will not comment more on the investigation. We have some evidence in the respect to that."
Jules Vasquez, 7News
"Has he indicated that he's working or that he did it on behalf of anyone? Or did he do it on behalf of himself?"
Inspector Juanito Cocom - OC, Ladyville Police
"Like I told you, I will not comment on anything pertaining to this investigation. One thing I can say is that we are working hand in hand with the office of the director of prosecution to have a strong case."
Jules Vasquez, 7News
"Are you able to say its previous history at all factored into your investigation?"
Inspector Juanito Cocom - OC, Ladyville Police
"Of course."
Jules Vasquez, 7News
"Is this person an arsonist for a hire or is this person somebody who loves fires?"
Inspector Juanito Cocom - OC, Ladyville Police
"I cannot say anything in respect to that."
Jules Vasquez, 7News
"You can say if he's an arsonist or other."
Inspector Juanito Cocom - OC, Ladyville Police
"I will leave it at that for now."
Martinez was found on the road in the Belize River Valley area. He has family in Double Head cabbage. He is known in Belize City as a rapper who goes by the stage name "Nutton Nice."
Today, Martinez appeared in the Magistrate's Court, and was charged with arson for setting Minister Faber's $25,000 Mazda CX-7 on fire. Martinez was denied bail after the prosecution objected on the grounds that he was likely to interfere with the witnesses if he was released. The prosecutor also claimed that Martinez might attempt to flee due to the serious nature of the crime, and the possibility of lifetime imprisonment. Martinez was remanded until December 14th.
In 2009, he was acquitted of arson. A neighbor at the time Roy Latchman claimed that IN 2007, Martinez poured a canister of kerosene on his verandah and set it on fire. He was tried in the Supreme Court, but the judge wasn't convinced that police established there was a fire, so he directed the jury to acquit him of the crime.
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