AmbergrisCaye.com Home Forums Belize by District Belize District Bilking the Bank's ATM to The Tune of 100k

They did it using bogus international bank cards - and now, less than a year later, a trio of Mexicans is accused of doing the same thing. They were caught on Friday in Corozal - and went to court in Belize City today. Here's the story of what they did, and to which bank:...

Jules Vasquez reporting
Three Mexicans, Belen Hernandez, Lionel Rodriguez, in black and Joscan Jafet with the hoodie were all charged with one count of theft today in Magistrate's Court.

Police say the trio fraudulently withdrew at least one hundred thousand dollars from Atlantic Bank Branches throughout the country.

ASP Alejandro Cowo OC-CIB Belize City
"On Friday, police intercepted three Mexican nationals with an assorted different bank cards, international cards. They were intercepted in the Corozal District along with a substantial amount of Mexican currency. The Atlantic Bank had indicated to police that they had seen these three persons, two male person and a female, withdrawing several amounts of cash from different ATMs within the country. So far, ehm this investigation is pointing that we have two Mexican nationals together; two males and a female, and a search conducted on their apartment at Ladyville yielded several computers and other electronic items that the police at this moment is looking to see what other information they can get from those devices."

Reporter
"So is it believed that the money, or at least the bank cards may be stolen?"

ASP Alejandro Cowo OC-CIB Belize City
"They are of different persons. So, we suspect that they have been stolen from other persons."

Reporter
"Belizeans?"

ASP Alejandro Cowo OC-CIB Belize City
"No. All of them is international cards."

Reporter
"And about how many, sir? Do you know?"

ASP Alejandro Cowo OC-CIB Belize City
"We have over 60/ if I'm not mistaken."

Operating from this apartment in the New Site area of Ladyville - the trio used those 60 bank cards to repeatedly visit Atlantic Bank ATM's and make fraudulent withdrawals.

Reporter
"How much has been withdrawn from these accounts so far?"

ASP Alejandro Cowo OC-CIB Belize City
"The report from Atlantic Bank is giving a rough estimate of about a hundred thousand dollars, within a period from November to present date. It is Atlantic Bank in the Free Zone, Corozal, Orange Walk, Belize City, San Pedro, Caye Caulker and, I believe, San Ignacio."

It was a high profile arraignment in court today with their attorney Kevin Arthurs trying unsuccessfully to get them bail.

This man, Mike Smith - a deportee who was charged with failing to make regular checks with police as required for deportees - and who was recently caught in Mexico with a stolen passport, claims he was their local handler.

As they left court they were taken into custody for them to be charged with more offences.

Joscan Jafet and Belen Hernandez are 26, and 31 Lionel Rodriguez is 31.

They appeared before Chief Magistrate Sharon Fraser where Jafet was charged the theft of $300 dollars from the Atlantic Bank branch in Corozal Town. Hernandez was charged with the theft of $500 from the Atlantic Bank in Orange Walk Town. Rodriguez was charged with the theft of $200 dollars from Atlantic in Corozal Town.

All the alleged thefts occurred on January 19. Their attorney, Kevin Arhurs, argued strenuously for bail, but Chief Magistrate Fraser denied it, and remanded them into custody until March 21.

Channel 7