Belize City Man Remanded Over Unpaid Fines Following Burglary Charge

A Belize City man is on remand at the Belize Central Prison over unpaid fines. Forty-two-year-old Selvin Bodden appeared in the Belize City Magistrate’s Court today, charged with a single count of burglary. He pleaded guilty to the offense but disputed the fact that he had stolen anything. The Magistrate asked him why he was pleading guilty and he acknowledged that he did enter the home but maintained he did not steal what he was accused of. With that, the Magistrate entered an equivocal plea of not guilty on Bodden’s behalf.  He was granted bail in the sum of $750 plus one surety of the same. However, when the court pulled up his records, Bodden had almost two thousand dollars of unpaid fines and needed to pay them off before he could post bail. He could not make payment and he will remain on remand until he is able to post his bail. Bodden is due back in court on September 29. He is accused of burglarizing a home on North Front Street, Belize City, and stealing over five hundred and sixty dollars worth of personal items.