Tour guides charged with ‘Attempting to corrupt a public officer’

Tuesday, June 23^rd, 2015. Aaron Humes Reporting: Two Tour Guides, Argyle Jex and Lewis Caal, charged with attempting to corrupt a public officer, namely Senior Superintendent Edward Broaster, were acquitted of the charge today by the Chief Magistrate, Anne Marie Smith. The incident occurred around 2:30 p.m. on march 22, 2014 at Caye Caulker.

Jex and Caal were walking on the beach when they were accosted by Broaster and several other police officers who were dressed in black and wore bullet proof vests. Jex was asked by Police Constable Timothy Roches if he had anything illegal on him and Jex said, “yes, a little smoke”. Roches then searched Jex and found cannabis in the pocket of his pants.

Roches testified that Caal then told Jex to give the officers some money and Jex and Broaster had some conversation then Jex gave Broaster $100. But in his witness statement Roches said Jex gave Broaster the money then they had a conversation. Broaster testified that he did not have any conversation with Jex.

Jex testified that he did not give Broaster any money and after the cannabis was found on him he was handcuffed, he said that while he was handcuffed Roches asked him if he had any money and he reached into his left back pocket and took out his wallet. Jex said Roches took the money from his wallet and told him and Caal that they were under arrest for attempting to bribe a police officer.

Caal testified a corroborated Jex’s testimony. Chief Magistrate Smith said the Crown has not proven its case and where there is doubt the benefit of the doubt should go to the accused and she acquitted Iex and Caal. Jex and Caal were represented by attorney Michael Peyrefitte.

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