Aggravating factors

The court shall consider the following factors to be aggravating factors and shall increase the penalty prescribed for that offence by five years if any of the following factors are present in the commission of an offence under this Act– (a) the presence of a relationship of trust between the child victim and the person committing the (b) the fact that the exploitation of the victim was intended to bring profit to the offender or that the offender is part of an organized criminal group or network whether operating internationally or within Belize; (c) that the act entailed circumstances that endanger or are likely to endanger the life or safety of the child victim concerned; or (d) that the act entailed circumstances that constitute inhuman or degrading treatment.