Immigration Officer to stand trial for extorting Jamaican national in High Court

Published by [email protected] at March 15, 2025

Posted: Saturday, March 15, 2025. 2:29 pm CST.

By Breaking Belize News Staff: Interdicted immigration officer Monique Meisha Escalante will stand trial at the High Court for extortion, following a ruling by a Senior Magistrate in Court #2 on Friday.

Escalante, 32, who hails from Santa Rita Heights, Corozal Town, appeared unrepresented in her Preliminary Inquiry (PI) but had previously sought legal aid from Attorney Leslie Hamilton, who was not present. After reviewing the evidence presented by the prosecution, the Senior Magistrate committed her case to trial at the next practical sitting of the High Court on June 10, 2025.

Escalante is accused of extorting $3,000 USD ($6,000 BZD) from 27-year-old Jamaican national Janhoi Shaun-Dhee Richards at the Philip Goldson International Airport (PGIA) in Ladyville on March 15, 2024.

According to police reports, Richards stated that an immigration officer wearing a grey sweater over her uniform demanded that he place money inside his passport, threatening repercussions if he refused. Richards alleged that when he initially resisted, the officer began questioning his financial status, leading him to comply out of fear that he would be detained and unable to leave the airport.

Escalante was later identified through surveillance footage at PGIA, leading to her detention on March 21, 2024, her formal charge on March 23, 2024, and her court arraignment on March 25, 2024, where she was granted bail of $8,000.

During the Preliminary Inquiry (PI), the prosecution submitted over 20 documents, including witness statements and video evidence. Escalante raised concerns about the color of the handwritten statements she received, questioning their authenticity. She also noted that while she was told she would receive three DVDs as evidence, she was given four, with one being defective.

Despite these concerns, the court ruled that there was sufficient evidence to proceed to trial. Escalante was given seven working days to submit an alibi defense in writing.

Her trial is set to commence at the High Court on June 10, 2025.

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