Belize City Woman Charged Over Facebook Live Comments About Police Officer

A Belize City woman has been charged with a cybercrime offence following allegations that she made derogatory statements about a female police officer during a Facebook Live broadcast. Thirty-four-year-old Amika Shanee Chanel Betran, a housewife of Partridge Street, appeared in the Belize City Magistrate’s Court on Monday. She pleaded not guilty to using a computer system to disseminate a statement she allegedly knew to be false.  Police allege that, on July 11, Betran used Facebook to make comments about a 28-year-old police constable, including claims concerning the officer’s personal conduct and professional reputation.  According to the police complaint, the officer was at home when her sister alerted her to the broadcast. She later located the video on Betran’s Facebook page and reportedly heard her name being mentioned along with statements she considered insulting and damaging to her reputation. The officer subsequently made a cybercrime report and provided investigators with a screen recording of the broadcast.  Betran was detained on July 18 and formally charged the following day. The prosecution did not object to bail, and the Senior Magistrate granted Betran bail in the sum of $1,500 with one surety in the same amount.  As part of her bail conditions, Betran must not contact the complainant or members of the complainant’s family. She is also prohibited from interfering with prosecution witnesses or posting anything on social media about the complainant or the case. The court warned that violating those conditions could result in her bail being revoked.  Before securing her release, Betran was also required to settle an outstanding fine of $75.  The matter was adjourned until September 7.