By Breaking Belize News Staff: Police Constable Roberto Carlos Hoare, assigned to the Belize Police Department’s vehicle fleet operations at Precinct Four and the Caribbean Shores Sub-Station, was arraigned in the Belize City Magistrate’s Court on Monday, October 26, accused of stealing more than $26,000 in government fuel through the alleged misuse of a police fuel card.
Hoare, a resident of Trial Farm Village in the Orange Walk District, appeared before the Chief Magistrate, represented by attorney David McKoy, where he pleaded not guilty to a single charge of theft involving 1,799.99 gallons of fuel valued at BZ$26,110.59.
With no objection from the prosecution, he was granted bail of $4,000 with one surety of the same amount or two sureties of $2,000 each. He met bail and was released.
As conditions of his release, Hoare must surrender his passport and travel documents, refrain from applying for new travel documents without the court’s permission, and report to the Orange Walk Police Station twice weekly, on Tuesdays and Thursdays. His next court appearance is scheduled for January 13, 2027, when disclosure is expected.
According to the prosecution’s allegations, the investigation began on October 20 after a man attempted to use a government-issued Sol Belize fuel card to refuel a private passenger bus at a service station near Cemetery Road and Central American Boulevard.
A pump attendant supervisor reportedly noticed the discrepancy and cancelled the transaction. The individual subsequently proceeded to another gas station on the Philip Goldson Highway, where investigators determined that 18 gallons of fuel had been dispensed.
Police discovered that the card was assigned to a white Ford Ranger police vehicle bearing licence plate CYB-3634, which had last been refuelled on March 2, 2026, and had remained out of commission.
However, transaction records allegedly revealed that the card had been used 97 times between March 3 and October 20, dispensing a total of 1,799.99 gallons of fuel valued at $26,110.59.
Investigators further established that the personal identification number used to authorize the transactions was assigned to Hoare, who served as fleet personnel responsible for vehicles attached to Precinct Four and the Caribbean Shores Sub-Station.
As part of the investigation, police obtained transaction records, vehicle tracking information, logbooks and bank deposit slips for an account bearing Hoare’s name.
Hoare was detained on October 23 and, acting on advice from his attorney, declined to participate in a police interview. Following consultation with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, he was formally charged on Sunday, October 25.
During Monday’s police press briefing, ASP Stacy Smith, Staff Officer of the Belize Police Department, confirmed that the investigation has extended beyond the department, suggesting that other individuals may be implicated.
The allegations follow an investigation reported by 7News on October 21, which exposed the suspected use of government fuel cards to supply private passenger buses while the police vehicles assigned to those cards were out of service. The report also highlighted a subsequent Ministry of Finance directive requiring stricter controls over fuel cards assigned to government vehicles undergoing extended repairs.
Police say the investigation remains ongoing.
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