Cecil Martinez
A resident of Hattieville accused of obtaining cash by deception from a businessman is out on bail pending trial in the San Pedro Magistrate’s Court. 24-year-old Cecil Dale Martinez was arraigned in the Belize City Magistrate Court on the charge on Thursday, January 21, 2021. He appeared unrepresented before Senior Magistrate Aretha Ford before whom he pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Allegations are that on August 19, 2020, he obtained as much as $2,500 in cash from Chang Pu Lee. There are no details as to the report made against Martinez as to how the theft occurred but luckily for the victim, the report was made just one month shy of the matter being viewed as statue-barred. In cases such as theft and obtaining property by deception, charges must be levied within a six-month period.