Convicted Former Policeman is Out on Bail for Extortion

Tonight, interdicted police officer Jairo Daniel Amador, who was convicted of extortion on October thirty-first, is home with his family after being granted bail pending sentencing. His sentencing was delayed today before Justice Derick Sylvester. The mitigation plea was scheduled for this morning at nine a.m., but Amador’s attorney, Norman Rodriguez, explained to the court that he had trouble contacting character witnesses. Given that the Crown’s submission for sentencing suggested a fine, Justice Sylvester asked if they objected to granting bail to Amador, considering the delay wasn’t his fault. With no objections, Justice Sylvester set bail at five thousand dollars with one surety. Amador’s case is now adjourned for mitigation plea and sentencing on January twenty-fourth, 2025. On October thirty-first, Amador, a former member of the Belize Police Department, was found guilty of extortion by a nine-member jury. He was accused of shaking down a Canadian tourist at a checkpoint in Hattieville, claiming she had no insurance for her rental vehicle and would be jailed until Monday unless she paid a “donation.” Frightened, the tourist handed over a hundred US dollars, which Amador took before letting her and her husband go. Police were informed shortly after, leading to the discovery of the money in Amador’s holster and his subsequent charge of extortion. The jury deliberated for less than four hours before finding him guilty. Amador, who had been out on bail, saw it revoked by Justice Sylvester and had been on remand pending sentencing.