By Breaking Belize News Staff: Three of five men accused in connection with an armed robbery were granted bail on Wednesday, while alleged well-known criminal figure Edward Saldano was denied bail and remains on remand, more than 90 days after the group was first jailed.
The men appeared in the Belize City Magistrate’s Court for bail consideration and to receive the remainder of their disclosure. While co-accused Shemar Zuniga, Shemaud Nunez, and Devon Garcia were each granted bail in the sum of $10,000, Saldano’s application was denied following strong objections from the police prosecutor.
Zuniga, Nunez, and Garcia were each granted bail with two sureties of $4,000. As part of their bail conditions, they are required to observe a nightly curfew from 8:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. and must report to their respective police precincts three times weekly—Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Zuniga is to report to the Racoon Street Police Station, while Nunez and Garcia must report to Precinct 1 on King Street.
At the start of the hearing, the men were provided with the remaining portion of their disclosure, consisting of five pages and 13 photographs. These included images of the alleged getaway vehicle and reports prepared by a Scenes of Crime technician, as well as documentation relating to downloaded police surveillance footage.
In opposing bail for Saldano, the prosecutor cited his previous and pending robbery matters, including a similar case set for trial, breaches of past bail conditions, and concerns that he may reoffend given the prevalence of robbery involving firearms. Saldano, who was unrepresented, pleaded with the court for bail, insisting on his innocence and telling the magistrate that he recently learned of the birth of his two-month-old child. He also claimed to be suffering from a gunshot injury while on remand and said he had previously failed to sign in due to illness.
The Senior Magistrate was not persuaded and denied bail, stating that Saldano’s multiple robbery charges and the use of firearms placed him at high risk of reoffending. He was advised that he could seek bail at the High Court.
The case stems from an armed robbery reported shortly after midnight on Monday, October 6, 2025, on Belchina Bridge. Police say a 23-year-old man was robbed of his cellphone at gunpoint by five men who arrived in a Chevy Equinox. The vehicle was later intercepted near Lindo’s Alley, where officers recovered the victim’s phone.
The matter is next due back in court on February 16, 2026, for a Case Management Conference.
The post Edward Saldano remains behind bars while rest of ‘BelChina 5’ granted bail appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
By Breaking Belize News Staff: Three of five men accused in connection with an armed robbery were granted bail on Wednesday, while alleged well-known criminal figure Edward Saldano was denied bail and remains on remand, more than 90 days after the group was first jailed. The men appeared in the Belize City Magistrate’s Court for
The post Edward Saldano remains behind bars while rest of ‘BelChina 5’ granted bail appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
