Office of the Ombudsman to investigate the case of Nyere Parchue 

An investigation has been launched by the Office of the Ombudsman into the circumstances surrounding inmate Nyere Parchue’s attempted escape from Belize Central Prison and the use of force that left him permanently wheelchair bound.  On August 12, during recreation time, Parchue was observed in a restricted area behind prison buildings. After ignoring repeated verbal warnings, he attempted to escape by jumping into the moat and climbing the perimeter fence. Guards fired multiple warning shots with one of the bullets hitting him in neck and head, causing a fall and resulting in a lumbar spine fracture that left him paralyzed.  The Ombudsman’s office is now scrutinizing whether the prison’s response to Parchue’s escape attempt respected principles of fairness, proportionality, and proper procedure. This includes reviewing the use of force, emergency response protocols, training, and medical care provided afterward. The probe also assures no interference with an ongoing criminal investigation.  Parchue appears in our news archives in 2018 when he was shot in the head during a robbery attempt while working as a messenger.  As a result, a bullet lodged in his head causing him to suffer from encephalomalacia (EN-SEFFA-LOMA-LAYSHA), which is degenerative condition affecting frontal lobe tissue that can provoke erratic and violent behavior.  Just last month, Parchue was in court again after assaulting his 8-year-old nephew.  During the hearing, Parchue’s mother expressed that she is afraid of Parchue.  Parchue was fined eight hundred dollars but had unpaid fines for traffic offences which landed him in prison.  He was a few weeks away from being released when he attempted to escape.