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Eric Chang Discusses False Claims
posted (March 9, 2017)
So, we've shown you how Eric Chang declared innocence in the Citizen Kim passport scandal, and yesterday, the Senate also asked him to answer to the allegations about these same stolen visas. Immigration Officer Mark Tench singled Chang out in the explosive disclosure of their meeting at the Calypso Restaurant in early 2013. Tench told the senate that Tillett and Chang paid $5,000 per stolen visa.

Chang told the Senate yesterday, that Tench and all others who've identified him as part of this scandal are just plain lying on him. Here's that conversation:

Eric Chang - Former Deputy Mayor of Belize City
"No it's not up accurate at all. Let's start with Mr. Middleton. I don't know who is Mr. Middleton, at no time in my life. Secondly you say that Mr. Tillet and I wrote a statement to confront the transaction. I don't know what statement of what transaction he's talking about because as far as I'm concerned I remember just because I was working in city council and I was with Mr. Patrick for whatever reason I don't remember. I wasn't even aware that Mr. Tillet.."

Hon. Aldo Salazar
"What day are you talking about, the day of the meeting of the council?"

Eric Chang
"Yes I was with Mr. Tillet that day, I don't even know who Mr. Tillet was going to meet. I wasn't even aware of what situation, Mr. Tillet just told me that he has to meet with some people and I was along with Mr. Tillet that day and they went to the meeting."

Hon. Aldo Salazar
"When you got to the meeting, did it became apparent shortly after what it was about?"

Eric Chang
"I heard conversations, but I was no part of the conversations."

Hon. Aldo Salazar
"Why did you accompany Mr. Tillet to a meeting that you didn't know anything about?"

Eric Chang
"I work at city council with Mr. Tillet, often times we have lunch together and I honestly don't recall how I ended up with Mr. Tillet that day, but it's a common thing that my office is right across from his office. We commonly have lunch or things like that together, I just don't remember how I ended up with Mr. Tillet that day. I cannot recall but I was with him that day and he stated he was going to meet with some people. I just ended up in the meeting."

Hon. Aldo Salazar
"The impression I got was that, he said that the indication coming from you and Mr. Tillet was that you had paid $5,000 per visa."

Eric Chang
"Mr. Chairman the only thing I can tell you is that that is not true. I was no part of the conversation and I don't know where that $5000 he spoke about came from. It's not my matter, so I didn't really listen or memorize anything, but I remember that day that Mr. Tillet called me and wanted to assist him so I went along and realized it was 3 immigration officers. Mr. Tillet was complaining to the immigration officer what transpired was whatever, I was no part of it, I just don't remember what exactly. I just don't know how to explain to you that I was not a part of it, I was just accompanying him sometimes."

Hon. Aldo Salazar
"In my mind, for you to suggest that you were involved with the purchasing of visas for $5,000 per visa. That is truly false, that is a lie?"

Eric Chang
"That is a lie. That's definitely a lie. Why would I go meet an immigration officer and tell him I'm involved in all of this? I'm a politician, I was a public figure. If I do something wrong, why would should I show my appearance to the investigating officers and say 'listen I am a part of this, yes I get them for my friend'? That doesn't make any sense."

Hon. Aldo Salazar
"The testimony of Mr. Trench suggested that you were involved along with Mr. Tillet."

Eric Chang
"See I can't control what he says I can only speak what I know. I am not involved in this visa purchasing. The only involvement I have was a friendly thing and conversation came up. The only thing I ever did was introduce my friend to Mr. Tillet."

Patrick Tillett testified yesterday asserting that Chang went to that Calypso meeting with him as his witness. Tillett told the Senate that the Immigration Officers wanted to see him, Tillett, and not Eric Chang. He added that he didn't want to meet with the immigration officers without someone present.

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