Tonight, a would be good Samaritan says doing the right thing cost him his freedom. A Belize City father is now speaking out after a moment of compassion landed him behind bars. Nehru Geban says he stepped in to help his neighbor, a child, whom he believed was in danger. But instead of thanks, he ended up in a jail cell. What began as an attempt to protect a child quickly escalated into confrontation, fear for his life, and an arrest that his attorney now calls unlawful. Tonight, Geban is seeking justice and asking a troubling question: When you intervene to do good, who protects you?
Nehru Geban
Nehru Geban, Belize City Resident
“On this specific day the child was in extreme distress, because the amount of cries for help was abnormal. So being a father of three kids I was passionate to go and see what was going on. I made it my business to go and see what was happening. The mother became aggressive towards me and cursed me out, but all I was concerned about was the safety for the child. On Sunday the third of May I was at home with my three young sons and asleep and I was awaken by two men knocking on my door. I didn’t know the men. They asked to see me by name. one of the men came at me to attack me. We got into a scuffle to defend myself. He asked why I disrespected his wife and called his wife names and intervened in the situation. The reason I intervened is because the week prior I saw the news of the police hitting the child and I have any right to intervene as a citizen on behalf of any child. The amount of screams were not normal. I told the police I didn’t believe I should be charged. They told me they wanted me to drop the charge against the assailants. I said I refuse to do that, because I feel threatened.”
Norman Rodriquez
Norman Rodriquez, Attorney-at-law
“In this instance, the child needed somebody to intervene and he intervened. The allegations are he was threatened. That did not end with a threat, because two people came at his door. Now, I don’t understand why the police would charge him for any crime when they went to his house and found the two men in front of his place.”
Geban and his attorney are exploring legal avenues to sue the Belize Police Department for wrongful detention and damages.
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