Manuel Moralez Charged with Three Counts of Arson

Following a report filed by Bob Hotchandani on Sunday, December 22, police on Tuesday, December 24, formally arrested and charged 22-year-old Manuel Anthony Moralez, a Belizean construction worker from the Belize District, with three counts of arson.

On Sunday, December 22, 2024, around 5:05 a.m., police responded to a report of vehicles on fire on Princess Margaret Drive. Upon arrival, officers found three luxury vehicles engulfed in flames: a 2022 Cadillac Escalade valued at $250,000, a 2023 Audi Q7 worth $150,000, and a Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck valued at $85,000.

The vehicles belonged to businessman Bob Hotchandani and his son, Sunjay Hotchandani. The fire department was called to the scene and successfully extinguished the blaze, preventing it from spreading to nearby structures.

The investigation revealed that the vehicles had been parked at the location overnight. Security footage showed three individuals arriving by boat, dousing the vehicles with a flammable substance, setting them on fire, and then fleeing in the direction of Golden Bay. Police have detained one suspect, identified as Manuel Morales, in connection with the incident. A container with suspected accelerant remains was recovered from the scene.