Cyberbullying Case Against Alberto August Officially Dropped

The cyberbullying case against UDP’s Alberto August has officially come to an end after the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) ordered that the criminal proceedings be discontinued.  Just before eleven o’clock this morning, the Belize Police Department announced that it had received a memorandum from the Office of the DPP directing that the charge against August be withdrawn following a review of the case file. Police also confirmed that all property seized during the investigation will be returned to August.  The decision from the DPP follows a series of developments over the past several days.  Love News obtained a signed statement made by former Minister of Home Affairs Oscar Mira on June 27, in which he formally withdrew the complaint that led to August’s arrest under the Cybercrime Act. In the statement, Mira explained that after reflecting on the matter and discussing it with his family, he no longer wished to pursue the complaint or any criminal proceedings. He maintained, however, that he still believed the Facebook publication was false and objectionable, but concluded that ending the matter was in the best interests of all concerned.  Mira’s withdrawal came after newly appointed Minister of Home Affairs Julius Espat publicly disclosed that he had instructed the Commissioner of Police to forward the case file to the DPP for an independent legal review. Espat said the case had attracted significant public interest and that the DPP should determine whether the prosecution ought to continue.  Here is a snippet of that interview conducted last week.

Julius Espat, Minister of Home Affairs: “I don’t think we should be…. I don’t think any person in power should utilize his power for something that is annoying you at the moment. I think we all fall into that trap. I have done it many times and I have failed every time I have done it either at home or at school or in regular everyday activities. I have tried to learn that you need to sit back and listen to advice and find a better solution. The decision was based on the fact that we believe that the DPP is the person constitutionally mandated to make a decision if it’s frivolous or not. And I believe we have to give all leaders of their different organizations within the government the respect that’s due to them.”

Documents obtained by Love News show that the DPP received the case file on June 26, with additional material submitted on June 29. Following that review, Director of Public Prosecutions Cheryl-Lynn Vidal directed that the charge against Alberto August be discontinued and that his electronic devices be returned.  Love News understands that some police sources believe Mira’s decision to withdraw his complaint may have been influenced by the directive to have the matter independently reviewed by the DPP. While that assertion has not been independently verified, the timeline has prompted questions as to whether the complainant sought to withdraw the matter after it became clear that the prosecution would undergo external legal scrutiny.