By Breaking Belize News Staff: A Belizean government worker attached to the Ministry of Rural Transformation is accused of stealing $15,315.50 from the Crooked Tree Water Board and was arraigned on Tuesday afternoon on a charge of theft.
He is 40-year-old Nemencio Christolobo Acosta, a public servant who resides in the Halls Layout area of Corozal Town.
At 2:10 p.m., Acosta, who was unrepresented, appeared before Senior Magistrate Mannon Dennison in Court #6, where he was read a single charge of theft. No plea was taken after the prosecutor informed the court that the Crown intends to proceed against Acosta on indictment.
With no objection to bail, Senior Magistrate Dennison granted bail in the sum of $5,000 plus one surety of the same amount. Acosta was able to meet bail by 3:00 p.m.
As part of his bail conditions, Acosta must report once a week, every Friday, to the Corozal Police Station and is not to leave the country without the court’s permission. He was also required to clear an outstanding court fine of $255 before posting bail. The unpaid fine stemmed from a 2016 conviction in the Benque Viejo Magistrate’s Court for driving a motorcycle with alcohol concentration above the prescribed limit.
Acosta’s next court date is set for April 17, 2026.
Police report that on April 10, 2024, at approximately 11:24 a.m., the Chairman of Crooked Tree Village, visited the Ladyville Police Station and made a report.
He reported that sometime in April 2022, during a routine monthly visit to the Ministry of Rural Transformation in Belize City, he spoke with Acosta, who was at the time the Community Development Officer. Acosta told him that he was running low on water meters and suggested that he could source water meters for the Crooked Tree Village from an unnamed individual at a cheaper price.
The Chairman said he agreed, believing it would save the Village Council money. On May 23, 2022, he wrote a cheque in the amount of $11,132.59, leaving the payee section blank, as he did not know to whom it would be made payable. On May 26, 2022, he wrote a second cheque for $4,177.59, again leaving the payee section blank.
He told police that both cheques were handed over to Acosta. However, despite repeatedly requesting a receipt to account for the expenditure from the Crooked Tree Water Board, Acosta allegedly failed to provide one.
On September 29, 2023, the Chairman said he visited the Ministry’s office in Belize City and received 45 water meters and 30 angle air release valves with brass couplings from Acosta, who reportedly told him those were the meters he had paid for.
The Chairman said he again requested a receipt but none was produced.
According to the Chairman, sometime in October 2023, he received a call from the Acting Coordinator for Rural Transformation, who inquired whether he had received donated water meters. He responded that he had only received the meters he believed were purchased.
Following that conversation, the Chairman said he realized that the meters and valves obtained from Acosta had in fact been donated, and the $15,315.50 issued to Acosta had not been accounted for with any receipt for the purchase of the items.
Police investigations continue.
The post Corozal public servant charged with theft of $15,315 from Crooked Tree Water Board appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
By Breaking Belize News Staff: A Belizean government worker attached to the Ministry of Rural Transformation is accused of stealing $15,315.50 from the Crooked Tree Water Board and was arraigned on Tuesday afternoon on a charge of theft. He is 40-year-old Nemencio Christolobo Acosta, a public servant who resides in the Halls Layout area of
The post Corozal public servant charged with theft of $15,315 from Crooked Tree Water Board appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
