32-year-old, Jose Manuel Portillo was arraigned before Senior Magistrate Aretha Ford on a single charge of arson; however, no plea was taken since the matter is indictable. The prosecutor, Corporal Kennard Clark had objected to bail since the accused threatened the victim and actually followed through with his threats by burning down the victim’s home. Senior Magistrate Ford upheld the objection to bail and remanded Portillo into custody at the Belize Central Prison. Portillo is accused of destroying a house by fire situated in Lord’s Bank Village. The estimated value of the twenty by thirty structure is just over twenty-seven thousand dollars and was the property of Kimberly Betancourt. Portillo was also in court yesterday where he was charged with common assault and the use of threatening words on the owner of the house. The case was adjourned to October 30, 2019.
