HomeCrimeDaniel Cal Died from Inflammation in the Lungs

Daniel Cal Died from Inflammation in the Lungs

Daniel Cal Died from Inflammation in the Lungs

A Belmopan resident died after being held in police custody for four days. He is twenty-six-year-old Daniel Cal. A postmortem was conducted on his body today. The examination concluded that Cal died from widespread inflammation in the lungs and chronic alcoholism. His family alleges that he was abused at the hands of police officers while in custody at the Belmopan Police Station. There were clear signs of injuries on his body. On Friday, the Minister of Home Affairs, Kareem Musa said that Cal was suffering from seizures while in custody. But Cal’s family denies he had any history of seizures. News Five’s Paul Lopez reports.

 

Paul Lopez, Reporting

Twenty-six-year-old Belmopan Resident, Daniel Cal died at the Western Regional Hospital after being in police custody for four days. According to reports, he was detained on the evening of September sixth, allegedly being in possession of a stolen motorcycle.  He was held inside a cell at the Belmopan Police Station. Four days later, on Tuesday September tenth, his family made a horrifying discovery.

 

Cynthia Chiac

                       Cynthia Chiac

Cynthia Chiac, Sister of Deceased

“When my mother and my sister met my brother he was already on the ground. His hands were all pale. His eyes were already in. The police, Sergeant Moody, told my mother that my brother was in the cell and that my sister and my mother should be the one to go get him and bathe him and then after that they still have the audacity to tell my mother, that they should wash the cellblock. None of the police officer wanted to go help them. So, everything, how they pick up him, my mother and sister were the one who bathe him. They actually went into the cell block and that is when they found my brother lying, just with boxers, had no clothes, nothing on.”

Cal’s family tried to see him on several occasions that weekend when they visited the station to take clothing and food for him. They were reportedly told to leave the items and that they would not be allowed to see him. Furthermore, Cal was to be arraigned at the Belmopan Magistrates Court on Monday the ninth of September. His mother was waiting outside the courtroom, but police never showed up with him. After the discovery in the cell, Cal was rushed to the Western Regional Hospital.

 

Cynthia Chiac

When we reached at the hospital that is when we saw bruises on his cheeks, his two legs, his hands. Then the bed had some blood and we were wondering, which part blood was coming out and that is when the big stitch on his head was there. We went to leave some, because he would usually ask for Electrolit. So, when my sister went they would just get the stuff and said they would give my brother. On Tuesday night we did find out, we even see that he was suppose to go on Monday at court. He did not went.”

 

On Friday, Minister of Home Affairs, Kareem Musa told reporters that an investigation has been launched into the matter. He said that a review of surveillance footage reveals that there were no instances of police brutality while Cal was in custody.  According to Minister Musa, Cal was suffering from bouts of seizures.

 

Kareem Musa

                      Kareem Musa

Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs

“From 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.”

Today, a postmortem was conducted on Cal’s body. That examination concluded that the cause of death was Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome or respiratory failure caused by widespread inflammation in the lungs. The examination further reveals that chronic alcoholism also contributed to his death. Cal’s family contends that he did not have a history of seizures.

 

Cynthia Chiac

“Like I said, we want justice for my brother. My brother died in there. Police killed my brother. He did not have any medical, no seizures, no nothing. My brother was healthy, everything. My mother even had lunch with him on Friday. He was good. He had no bruises, nothing. Like they were saying he had seizure. If they knew my brother had that. We were there on Monday, my brother and sister, they were there the whole day waiting for him to go to court. He did not go. Why didn’t they let my family know that he was suffering from something, you know to let the family know.”

 

Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.

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