Dissuading Dr. Arnold from Proceeding with Court Action is a Crime
Chester Williams
Since the issue made headlines on Wednesday, it is reported that Dr. Arnold has come under intense pressure not to proceed with legal action against her fiancé. According to Commissioner Williams, pressure is being brought upon the alleged victim to recant her statement. Attempting to dissuade her constitutes a criminal offense, says Williams.
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police, Belize Police Department
“I know for a fact that all day yesterday and today she has been under extreme pressure from many different quarters trying to convince her not to pursue the matter and she has so far stood her grounds that she is going to pursue the matter and so we go with what she wants. Yes, should there be anything to suggest that someone is trying to cause her harm or force her to do certain things that she doesn’t want to, let me remind the public that the criminal code does provide an offense for attempt to suppress a witness. So anyone who approaches a witness and tries to convince or threaten or persuade that witness not to go to court, commits an offense. It’s a matter for her to report if she feels uncomfortable with anyone approaching her and asking her to suppress her evidence then such person can be arrested, by law.”
As we mentioned earlier, party leader Patrick Faber has come under attack and intense public scrutiny in the past based on similar allegations made against him. In 2021, Faber was removed as the parliamentary leader of the United Democratic Party when a video surfaced online in which he charged at a door in a fit of rage during an incident involving the mother of his child. That incident resulted in move within the U.D.P. to have Faber recalled as leader of the party. While he narrowly held on to the leadership of the party, Faber worked overtime to heal the deeply fractured political organization. With this latest round of scandal, it is yet to be determined what course of action will now be taken by the party’s executive.
