Spoonaz’s Cafe drops charges after retired nurse remanded to prison for failing to pay less than $50 for meal

Published by BBNTEAM at May 20, 2025

Posted: Tuesday, May 20, 2025. 12:23 pm CST.

By Aaron Humes: A retired nurse, 46-year-old Idi McDougall, is currently being held at the Belize Central Prison after being unable to post bail of $500. She faces charges of obtaining services by deception from a well-known local establishment, Spoonaz Restaurant and Bar, located on North Front Street.

However, the restaurant said it had reconsidered the charges after learning more about the customer, in a social media statement.

The incident, which took place on Saturday, May 17, has drawn considerable attention after McDougall reportedly attempted to pay for a meal that she could not afford. The total bill amounted to $48.25, which included oxtail, a soda, a blueberry scone, and a chocolate drink. When she attempted to pay, McDougall’s bank card was declined multiple times due to insufficient funds.

In court, McDougall expressed confusion regarding the charges against her, stating that she believed it was an honest mistake. “I never intentionally did it,” she pleaded with the Senior Magistrate. She explained that she often experienced issues with her bank card, claiming, “You think you have the money and you don’t have the money.”

Despite her claims of misunderstanding, the Senior Magistrate entered a plea of not guilty on her behalf. Although there was no objection to bail, McDougall was unable to meet the amount required due to her relatives living far away in San Ignacio, Cayo District. Following this, she was remanded to the Belize Central Prison.

McDougall was next scheduled for court on July 8.

In it’s statement, the restaurant said “that we were not aware of her mental condition. We recognize that the decision to involve law enforcement has caused deep concern within the community, and we hear you. Our intention was never to criminalize hardship. This was merely a situation where service was rendered and payment could not be made. This is clearly an incident that could have happened at any business. This incident, and the individual involved, called for a greater degree of sensitivity and understanding than we exercised in the moment.”

Spoonaz also noted that “this was not the first time this individual and others have entered our space, received full service, and left without the means to pay. As a small business, we have a responsibility to protect our staff, manage limited resources, and maintain a safe and sustainable environment for all our patrons. Balancing compassion with accountability is never easy, especially when patterns of behavior begin to emerge.”

Nonetheless, the business says it is “listening, and we are learning.”

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