Belize City Chef Remanded for Obstruction

Tonight, a chef from Belize City’s Northside is on remand at the Belize Central Prison, unable to post bail. Erlin Dylan Yacab, a twenty-seven-year-old chef from Douglas Jones Street, appeared in court unrepresented and faced a charge of intentionally obstructing a police officer. Initially, Yacab pleaded guilty with an explanation, claiming, “The officer thought it was a plastic bag, but it was my spit I was trying to swallow.” Given the disagreement over what happened, the Chief Magistrate entered a not guilty plea on Yacab’s behalf. With no objection from the prosecutor, Yacab was granted bail set at one thousand dollars, with one surety of the same amount. Conditions of his bail include not being arrested or charged with any other offenses and attending all court dates until his case is resolved. Unfortunately, Yacab couldn’t post bail and was remanded to the Belize Central Prison. His next court date is February twenty-seventh, 2025. According to the police, Yacab allegedly swallowed a plastic bag during a search, but Yacab insists he was just swallowing his spit.