Belize\'s former Prime Minister cleared of theft charges

Belize\'s former Prime Minister, Said Musa has been cleared of theft charges, according to a report on CANANEWS.net.



He was accused of stealing US$10 million, which was given to the Belize government by the Venezuelan government in 2007.



Musa was charged along with his former minister Ralph Fonseca. In the preliminary stages of the case however, Magistrate Earl Jones ruled that there was insufficient evidence to commit Fonseca to trial, while ruling that Musa should face charges.



On Monday, the Chief Justice Dr. Abdulai Conteh quashed that decision, ruling that Magistrate Jones erred in his decision; as if the evidence was insufficient to commit Fonseca to trial the same should apply to Musa.



The Director of Public Prosecutions Sheryl-Lynn Branker-Taitt, however, announced plans to appeal the ruling.