Posted: Saturday, December 21, 2024. 7:10 am CST.
By Breaking Belize News Staff: The Tiul family, charged in connection with an alleged kidnapping and sexual assault, was granted bail of $20,000 each by High Court Justice Derick Sylvester. The bail decision was made during a virtual hearing last Thursday, despite strong objections from the DPP’s office, represented by Crown Counsel Dercene Staine.
The accused include Luis Alfredo Tiul Sr. and his son, Luis Alfredo Tiul Jr., as well as Elizabeth Tiul and Matilda Gamez, the mother and grandmother of the younger Tiul’s wife. The men’s bail requires two sureties of $10,000 each supported by land documents, while the women can secure their bail with four sureties of $5,000 each, without land documentation.
Stringent conditions accompany the bail. All four must attend court as scheduled, report to the Corozal Police Station three times a week (Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays), and relocate to Corozal, far from the Belmopan area, to prevent interference with the victim. They are prohibited from contacting the victim or any witnesses, must surrender travel documents to the High Court Registrar, and are barred from leaving Belize without judicial permission.
The charges stem from a shocking incident in which the Tiul family is accused of holding the 23-year-old wife of Tiul Jr. captive for eight days in their Belmopan home. During that time, she was allegedly beaten, starved, and sexually assaulted by her father-in-law. Police received a tip leading to their arrest.
The DPP strongly opposed bail, citing the serious nature of the offenses and concerns about interference with the victim and witnesses. Additionally, it was noted that three of the accused—excluding Tiul Jr.—are either Guatemalan or Mexican nationals.
Defense attorney Hurl Hamilton argued successfully that his clients are not flight risks, having lived in Belize since infancy. He noted the Crown presented no evidence to substantiate fears of interference or flight and emphasized that prolonged detention while awaiting trial would be unjust.
The case now awaits further proceedings, but the Tiul family is expected to relocate to Corozal and comply with the strict bail conditions.
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The post Tiul family granted bail in kidnapping and sexual assault case appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
Posted: Saturday, December 21, 2024. 7:10 am CST. By Breaking Belize News Staff: The Tiul family, charged in connection with an alleged kidnapping and sexual assault,
The post Tiul family granted bail in kidnapping and sexual assault case appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
