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Belize: Opposition legislator says his arrest is politically motivated

Loop News

April 30, 2025 8:37 AM ET

5 mins read

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BELMOPAN, Belize, Apr 30, CMC – Opposition legislator, Patrick Faber, says his arrest on charges of assaulting a police officer and obstructing the officer from performing his duties on Tuesday, is “politically motivated.”

“Clearly it is to try to bring embarrassment and shame. I am saying for the record that I am not guilty of those charges and we will wait for the court for us to have our day and for that to be determined,”  he added.

Faber was arrested soon after he participated in a news conference with Opposition Leader, Tracy Taegar-Panton.

The incident leading up to his arrest began when Faber allegedly sped through a checkpoint at the foot of BelChina Bridge, prompting a police pursuit. Upon stopping him, officers discovered his vehicle was unlicensed. When asked for his driver’s license, Faber claimed it was at home. The officers followed him to his Belize City residence where he produced the license.

But the police said that while issuing a violation ticket for operating an unlicensed vehicle and having a defective light, Faber began recording the officer and placing his phone close to the officer’s face.

The officer reported feeling threatened and uncomfortable and despite repeated warnings that he was obstructing police duties, Faber’s behaviour persisted.

After being detained, Faber was escorted to Queen Street Police Station for questioning, and later to Belize City Magistrates Court for arraignment, where he pleaded not guilty to both charges.

“I just think it is politically motivated, much of it. I did not do anything that would constitute any kind of aggravated assault. Nor did I try to stop the police or obstruct the police from doing his job,” Faber told reporters as he emerged from the court.

“The police who gave me, they gave me two tickets by the way, one for my taillights, that is the real reason why they claim they stopped me, and they don’t show you all the video. I have not seen what they showed you, but from what people are telling me, they diced and spliced what they want, which is a matter itself.”

“What is their motivation? Clearly it is trying to bring embarrassment and shame. I am saying for the record that I am not guilty of those charges and we will wait for the court, for us to have our day and for that to be determined,” Faber added.

Faber said this week makes 20 years “since I was last charged with aggravated assault against a police officer.

“So, this is …the first time I have endured such a charge or been targeted because of politics in this manner. I am not saying the police did not have a right to stop me and all of that. But I complied with all they asked me to do.

“I was just trying to make sure I had a version of what happened, for the very same reason. I know very well how they are able to use these things in a politically slanted way,” said Faber, denying also that he had been driving under the influence of alcohol.

“Absolutely not, if the police felt that way, they stopped me in front of Blue Marlin where I came out and they asked me for my license, I told them I did not have my license on me and they insisted that the regulations that says, or what I thought to be the case, that you have twenty-four hours to produce your license, the officer said absolutely not.

“I told them that I was not too far away from where I needed to be to get the license and he followed me there. If he allowed me to do that, as you heard my attorney say. In fact, those who know me have completely stopped drinking and I only took a drink for my birthday and that was it.”