Is it a new trend of victims speaking out against their alleged abusers? Courtney Menzies took a look at all these cases and has this story:

ASP Stacy Smith, Staff Officer, Belize Police Department
"As a consequence of police investigation into reports made by four male persons, police have formally arrested and charged 33-year-old Kevin Tzib, a Belizean pastor of Santa Elena Town, for six counts of sexual assault and one count of unnatural crime. The incidents that account for these charges span over five years between February of 2021 and July of 2026."

This is the latest in an alarming series of sexual assault cases involving community leaders. Kevin Tzib is the founder of Dunamis Ministries, and he allegedly preyed on the young male members of his own church.

A similar case occurred in Toledo, where a 67-year-old pastor, Victor Hernandez, was convicted of raping one of his congregants. The rapes are said to have been spread over six years. Back in August, Hernandez was sentenced to ten years in prison for the crime. Hernandez is also the former president of NEAB.

And in 2023, a Belmopan gospel singer was accused of child molestation. His accuser? The daughter of Pastor Scott Stirm. After Rebecca Stirm came forward, several other women alleged that Mervin Budram molested them as children as well.

Currently, Budram's case is at a standstill after he was arraigned on 13 counts of aggravated assault in November 2023.

A little over a year after Budram's arraignment, Pastor Luis Tiul Sr. of Belmopan was arraigned along with his son, wife, and mother for aggravated assault, wounding, sexual assault, and administering noxious matter on his daughter-in-law. The victim was reportedly held captive by the family for eight days and tortured after she attempted to visit her family.

Tiul and his family were granted bail of $20,000, and that case is still in the courts.

But it's not just pastors that have seen these types of charges. Two staff members from two different Orange Walk high schools have recently been accused of inappropriate behavior towards students. The first was at Muffles High School:

ASP Stacy Smith, Staff Officer, Belize Police Department
"Police have arrested and charged Hedyn Mendez, 31 years of age, a Belizean counselor,for the crimes of sexual assault and encouraging child pornography. The investigation began when officers came across a screenshot circulating on social media which suggested explicit conduct between this individual and a student."

After hearing this story on the news, one mother came forward with allegations from her own daughter who had attended Orange Walk Technical High School. She showed us that a teacher had sent an inappropriate text message to her daughter. In her case, however, she has tried to make a report to the school, the Police Department, the Ministry of Education, and Social Services, but she says it's all been futile:

Concerned Parent
"They didn't want to do anything with my case, maybe because I am no one... just because I am a single mother. Like if it was someone else, someone else with money, they would have done something. But I felt like no one wanted to help me.

"Everyone failed me-I mean, the school failed me, the police station, Social Department, Ministry of Education... everyone.

"I just wanted to voice this because it didn't only happen to her. I believe that there are so many other students at the school that this is happening, because I have heard many things about this teacher."

And while that mother hopes to receive justice for her daughter-who has since had to transfer schools-a woman is awaiting the outcome of the trial against Ambassador Alexis Rosado.

Rosado was arrested and charged for rape in April 2022. In January 2024, he was indicted at the High Court.Between January and October of this year, we have seen several delays to this case.

What also makes this case complicated is that government officials have defended Rosado's position as co-agent in Belize's ICJ case:

Francis Fonseca, Minister of Foreign Affairs
"Listen, we... I certainly understand, you know, the different views that... that people have.The bottom line is that our agent and our team determined a number of years ago... determined that Mr.Rosado's continued presence on the team as co-agent was important to the work that lies ahead, and so they felt and... and requested that he remain on the team. And so that, you know, that remains the position of the...of the government, obviously. Mr. Rosado... Ambassador Rosado is charged with very serious crimes, but he is innocent until proven guilty, you know."

And Prime Minister John Briceño echoed similar sentiments:

John Briceno, Prime Minister
"Of course, it creates some kind of concern, but right now I think... I'm not in any way trying to minimize the severity of the accusations. Again, in our constitution, in our laws, you are innocent until declared guilty. But we also have to look after the future of the country. We are at the ICJ in February-both in February with Guatemala and then in March with Honduras. And the agent, Ambassador Rosado, has been working on this issue for a few decades along with Ambassador Shoman, and I don't think it would be in the best interest of the nation to be able to remove him at this time."

But there are those in Cabinet who may not agree with that position:

Reporter: "Do you believe that Ambassador Rosado should remain as co-agent for the ICJ case given the rape allegations against him?"

Cordel Hyde:
"You know, I asked myself this question: if I were to go to sleep tonight and not wake up tomorrow, would they try to preserve me, or would they have to bury me? I think ultimately they would have to bury me, and that is how I will answer that."

Rosado's case will continue in court on November 20th-with a new lead counsel.

The next day, on November 21st, Pastor Tzib will also return to court.

Four pastors, two teachers, and a diplomat-men known as leaders of their communities and pillars of society-yet these allegations instead tell a story of alleged sexual violence and deep betrayal.

Courtney Menzies, 7News.