Belize City Bar Raid Leads to Fake Immigration Stamp Charges Against Joshua Ashburn

Police have brought charges against 47-year-old, Joshua Moses Ashburn, for the fake immigration stamps found during a raid at the Double Zero Bar in Belize City. Last month, police searched the establishment on Western Avenue where they found drugs, an illegal gun, six Chinese passports, and immigration stamps used for visas, permanent residency documents, and regular entry. Police had initially charged Ashburn for the guns and drugs, but this week additional charges were levied for the fake immigrations stamps found as well as the fake visas found in several Chinese passports.  The additional charges are five counts of possessing false documents and five counts of preparation for crime.  The raid comes a few weeks after it was discovered that three American nationals were able to access fake birth certificates to obtain a Belize passport.  Incidentally, the Ministry of immigration issued a press release this week, scolding one media house for sensationalizing the reports, and practicing tabloid journalism in the process.  Prime Minister John Briceno holds the portfolio for immigration and told Love News today that the media report on Channel Seven was disappointing.

John Briceño, Prime Minister of Belize: “Well, it’s unfortunate, and Mr. Vasquez and I we’re personal friends, but it’s disappointing, you know, sometimes in his type of journalism style I guess he’s trying to copy some of the tabloid journalism in the United States and it’s unfortunate. I wish he could have a more sense of responsibility as a journalist. But the point I want to make, whenever something happens I don’t think we should immediately announce it. We need to first do an investigation. I have been very clear that whenever any wrongdoing is found in any ministry, including the Ministry of Immigration, I will always tell the CEO investigate and deal with it. We are not going to tolerate any nonsense from anybody, any sort of corruption, that’s unacceptable. In this issue, the police was tipped off and they found that there were drugs, there were guns and also they found these stamps. The police have made it very clear, the commissioner has made it very clear these are false stamps. It’s not stamps that was given from the Ministry of Immigration. So before I can say anything, there has to be an investigation and to see if any members of our ministry was involved. And if they are involved I could assure you that they are going to be charged and they will have to go to court and defend themselves because we are not going to tolerate that. But I can’t go to the media for every little thing and say, hey this is happening. We can’t manage by that. We are elected to govern. And yes, journalists have their duties to do, and I respect that and I support that but don’t try to turn it into this kind of tabloid journalism just to get ratings. Be responsible. And we, as a government, also are prepared to work with the media. You all play an important role in keeping our citizens informed, but it has to be a partnership based on mutual respect.”

On Monday, Commissioner of Police Chester Williams explained that the additional charges were delayed as they had to verify the stamps and visas.  According to Police, Ashburn had obtained the fake stamps from an unidentified Chinese national.