Two San Pedro Men Remanded for Alleged Gang Affiliation

Two San Pedro men, 28-year-old Karim Nazim Espat and 27-year-old Bryan Anthony Correa, were remanded to Belize Central Prison today on charges of being gang members. They appeared in the Belize City Court today before Magistrate Ludlow Black, where they both pleaded not guilty to a single count of being a member of a gang. Police allege Espat and Correa, both from San Pedro’s DFC Area, are members of the San Pedrito Gang, linked to serious offenses. Due to the nature of the charge under the Crimes Control & Criminal Act, the Magistrate could not offer bail in the first instance, but the men can apply for bail at the High Court. Espat’s attorney, David McKoy, noted a complaint that Espat was denied food while in San Pedro police custody. Espat and Correa are due back in court in San Pedro on September 18. This follows similar charges yesterday, July 21, against Alexander Logan and Mark Anthony Logan, also accused of San Pedrito gang affiliation. They also pleaded not guilty and are due back in court on September 24.