Immigration Officer Arrested for Shoving Patron  

An immigration officer has been arrested for the crime of wounding, after allegedly assaulting a woman at the western border. Allegations are that on Monday; a Belizean national, was travelling through the western border when she began to feel frustrated at the pace the officers were processing her information. After voicing her discontent with Saul Lisbey, the forty-eight-year-old male clerk, who had yet to stamp her passport, he allegedly approached the woman and shoved her, causing her to fall to the ground. Upon hitting her head, she became unconscious and was rushed to the hospital. On Tuesday, she filed a report against Lisbey, and he was arrested today. On Tuesday, before Lisbey’s arrest, we spoke with C.E.O. of Immigration, Tanya Santos, who told News Five that Lisbey was placed on administrative leave while the investigation transpired. Here’s what she had to say.

 

On The Phone: Tanya Santos, C.E.O., Immigration

“So, I got a report last night that there was an incident, it may have been an altercation between one of my officers, an immigration officer, and a member of the public who was seeking service there at the Western border. I subsequently saw a post on social media about this incident and further inquired from the officer in charge about the situation who then went to investigate. And later on, between last night and this morning, I was able to confirm that yes, indeed, there was an incident involving an immigration officer and a member of the public in which it appears that she was  assaulted. And I say appears because that is yet to be determined.”

 

Briteny Gordon

“Was a report filed against the officer or has there been any reports of her instigating anything?”

 

Tanya Santos

“Not to my knowledge. I do not know that she has filed a report as yet. I do not think so, but that is a matter for the police. But I can let you know that we at the Ministry of Immigration have already placed that officer on administrative leave while we conduct our investigations further.”

 

Britney Gordon

“And was there anyone else involved in the incident?”

 

Tanya Santos

“No, I have seen footage of the incident itself and apart from other members of the public who were there waiting for their turn to get service. There was no other officer, whether they be from immigration or from what management agency or customs was physically present. We do have and we have seen video footage of the incident itself.”

 

Britney Gordon

“And have you received an update about the state of the woman?”

 

Tanya Santos

 “I don’t know that she has been released from the. I think it was in San Ignacio. I do know that she has  some, an injury to her head. I don’t know if it’s been classified as harm or wounding or anything as yet, but an injury. I’d like to assure the Belizean public and the traveling public that this is not behavior that is tolerated by the ministry of immigration, and that we will take every step to ensure that. We deal with this matter fully and if anybody experiences any abuse or mistreatment by immigration officers or any other officers for that matter to please feel free to get in touch with us at the office in Belmopan to look into these matters because we need to ensure that our services are the best to our public.”