UDP Calls for Independent Probe Into Death of Daniel Cal After Police Custody

The United Democratic Party is calling for an independent investigation into the death of 26-year-old Daniel Cal, who passed away hours after being released from police custody. Cal’s family says police had him detained for four days at the Belmopan Police Station and allegedly brutalized him while in custody. They further claim that Cal had bruises all over his body along with stitches in his head, and that he was found in soiled boxer shorts. His family is demanding answers, and the opposition has joined their call. The UDP says that the incident raises serious questions about the treatment of persons in police custody and whether Cal’s death was caused by the alleged beating. Leader of the Opposition Moses “Shyne” Barrow spoke on the issue and the need for a thorough look into the allegations.

Moses “Shyne” Barrow, Leader of the Opposition: “Deepest sympathies and as we said, we asked for a comprehensive investigation. All police officers are not bad people. In fact, they are heroes and they are frontline workers that we cannot do without but where there are violations of human rights, where there are criminal activities by those who are sworn to protect law and order we must investigate it and we must act swiftly to hold them to account. So deepest sympathies to the family of Daniel Cal.”

While Cal’s family asserts he was beaten in police custody, Minister of Home Affairs, Kareem Musa says the police didn’t lay a hand on the Belmopan resident. Musa explained today that he was briefed on the matter yesterday and has ordered a full investigation.

Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs: “It is a case that the individual in question was in police custody since Friday, I believe September 6th, when he was found in possession of a stolen motorcycle. He was to have been charged, I believe he was charged, with handling stolen goods but on Monday morning after his detention on Friday he had fallen ill within the cell I believe it is around 3 in the morning. He was taken to the Western Regional Hospital where he was treated and thereafter the medical practitioners released him back into the custody of police. However, because Tuesday was a holiday they were unable to charge him then. On Wednesday, I believe he had another instance. from the information that I’m receiving, it was seizures that he was suffering from and so he was again taken back to the hospital on Wednesday and I believe he passed away on Thursday. Because it was a case of not in custody death but shortly after being in custody we have asked the NFSS to expedite the post-mortem. I have been assured that that will be done on Monday because that is extremely important for the family to have some resolution as to the cause of death. Because of course the family has their speculation, they’re skeptical about what might have happened and so that is absolutely essential. I have also reached out to the Ministry of Health personnel to contact the doctors at the hospital that treated Mr. Cal when he was taken there on Monday and then thereafter taken there again on Wednesday for them to indicate whether Mr. Cal during his time there at the hospital had indicated anything to the doctors because I believe that there is some sort of insinuation that police might have hit him. But from the accounts that the police have provided so far, it seems that the knock on his head was as a result of the seizure he suffered and so that is the position at this time. We have started the investigation already.”

Love News understands that Cal’s family is exploring legal recourse.