Belmopan Man Dies After Being Held in Police Detention

An investigation is underway into the circumstances that resulted in the mysterious death of a man who was in police custody in Belmopan.  Twenty-six-year-old Daniel Cal was detained on September sixth after being found in possession of a stolen motorcycle.  While in lockup, he began experiencing health complications, reportedly he was having seizures, and had to be taken to the Western Regional Hospital for medical attention.  He suffered another bout of fits and had to be transported to the hospital while still in police custody.  Cal passed away on Thursday after being released from detention.  His family is reeling from the sudden loss and there are more questions than answers.  Earlier today, Minister of Home Affairs Kareem Musa provided an account that was shared with him from the Belize Police Department.

 

Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs

“Yesterday, I was informed of the untimely passing of Mr. Daniel Cal and I would like to use the opportunity to extend my heartfelt condolences to the family.  As you know, it is a case that the individual in question was in police custody since Friday, I believe September sixth, when he was found in possession of a stolen motorcycle.  He was to have been charged, I believe he was charged with handling stolen goods, but on Monday morning, after his detention on Friday, he had fallen ill within the cell, I believe it is around three in the morning.  He was taken to the Western Regional Hospital where he was treated and thereafter the medical practitioners released him back into the custody of the police, however, because Tuesday was a holiday, they were unable to charge him then.  On Wednesday, I believe he had another instance and the information that I am receiving, it was seizures that he was suffering from and so he was again taken back to the hospital on Wednesday and I believe he passed away on Thursday.  Because it was a case of not in-custody death, but shortly after being in custody, we have asked the NFSS to expedite the post mortem.  I have been assured that that will be done on Monday.  It is extremely important for the family to have some resolution as to the cause of death because, of course, the family their speculation, they are skeptical about what might have happened and so that is absolutely essential.  I have also reached out to the Ministry of Health personnel to contact the doctors at the hospital that treated Mr. Cal when he was taken there on Monday, and thereafter taken there again on Wednesday for them to indicate whether Mr. Cal, during his time there at the hospital, had indicated anything to the doctors because I believe that there is some sort of insinuation that police might have hit him.  But from the accounts that the police have provided so far, it seems that the knock on his head was as a result of the seizure he suffered.  And so that is the position at this time.”