Ivan Ayuso Pleads Guilty to Embezzling Over $1 Million from Government

Ivan Ayuso, a former senior accounts clerk at the Belize Sports Council, has pleaded guilty to stealing more than one million dollars from the government. Ayuso received a sentence indication of up to five years, which prompted his guilty plea.

The charges followed revelations brought out in an audit report of the Sport Council’s finances. A former attorney for Ayuso had said publicly following the charges that Ayuso was responsible for preparing checks, for which he was not authorised to sign. In January of 2021, Ayuso was granted bail in the sum of three hundred thousand dollars. Ayuso was also charged back in 2002 with arson in connection with the fire that destroyed the Paslow Building. He was acquitted of the charge.

The matter is before High Court Judge Nigel Pilgrim.