By Breaking Belize News Staff: A 60-year-old retired army veteran appeared before the Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday after admitting to unlawfully using a debit card left behind at an ATM in Ladyville to withdraw cash just days before Christmas.
Austin Olivera Sr., a resident of Lords Bank, pleaded guilty to card theft after withdrawing $100 from a Heritage Bank debit card belonging to a 59-year-old program director.
The incident occurred on Saturday, December 20, 2025, at the Shell Gas Station ATM located at Mile 9 on the Philip Goldson Highway. Police say the man inadvertently left his debit card in the ATM tray after completing a transaction at about 8:50 a.m. Surveillance footage later showed Olivera Sr. using the same machine between 8:51 a.m. and 8:55 a.m.
At his unrepresented arraignment in Court #5, Olivera Sr. admitted taking the card and cash but insisted he was “not a thief.” He told the court that while attempting to conduct his own transaction, the machine prompted him for another transaction, which he declined. Moments later, the ATM dispensed $100 in two increments—$60 and $40.
Olivera Sr. said he took the cash and the card, claiming he intended to return both and expected police would eventually find him. He further told the court that he was later stopped by police while heading home from work and voluntarily accompanied officers to the police station, where he explained what had occurred.
During the hearing, Olivera Sr. informed the court that the cash and debit card were at his home and that he wished to return them to the rightful owner. As a result, his arraignment was temporarily halted, and police escorted him to his residence to retrieve the items.
The sitting magistrate deferred sentencing until Thursday, January 8, 2026.
Police confirmed that the card owner, a resident of the Vista Del Mar area, reported the missing card shortly after realizing it had been left in the ATM tray. Investigations, including a review of surveillance footage, supported the charge of card theft laid against Olivera Sr.
The post Retired 60-year-old army veteran pleads guilty to withdrawing $100 from ATM on card left in machine before Christmas appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
By Breaking Belize News Staff: A 60-year-old retired army veteran appeared before the Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday after admitting to unlawfully using a debit card left behind at an ATM in Ladyville to withdraw cash just days before Christmas. Austin Olivera Sr., a resident of Lords Bank, pleaded guilty to card theft after withdrawing $100
The post Retired 60-year-old army veteran pleads guilty to withdrawing $100 from ATM on card left in machine before Christmas appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
