Harassing borrower, besetting borrower’s residence, etc

(1) Where a moneylender– (a) uses or, as the case may be, displays any threatening, abusive or insulting words, behaviour, writing, sign or other visible representation; or (b) does any act likely to cause alarm or annoyance to a borrower or surety, any member of the family of the borrower or surety, or any other person, in connection with the loan to the borrower, whether or not the moneylender does the act personally or by any person acting on the moneylender’s behalf, the moneylender commits an offence. (2) Any person who, acting on behalf of a moneylender, does any of the acts specified in sub-section (1) commits an offence. (3) A person who commits an offence under sub-section (1) or (2) is liable on summary conviction to– (a) a fine of not less than ten thousand dollars and not more than fifty thousand dollars or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years or both; (b) in the case of a second or subsequent offence, a fine of not less than fifteen thousand dollars and not more than seventy-five thousand dollars or imprisonment for a term of not less than 2 years and not more than 9 years or both; or (c) in the case where the person is a legal person, a fine of not less than twenty thousand dollars and not more than one hundred thousand dollars. 52 (4) If the court is satisfied that, in the course of committing an offence referred to in this section, damage was caused to any property or injury was caused to another person, the person who commits the offence is liable to three times the fine referred to in sub-section (3). (5) For the purposes of sub-section (1)(a), a person who– (a) uses any threatening, abusive or insulting words in any telephone call made by him; or (b) by any means, sends anything which contains any threatening, abusive or insulting words, writing, sign or other visible representation, whether from a place in Belize or outside Belize, to any person or place in Belize shall be taken to have done an act referred to in that sub-section. (7) For the purposes of sub-section (1)(b), a person who makes any telephone call, or by any means sends any article, message, word, sign, image or other visible representation, whether from a place in Belize or outside Belize, to any person or place in Belize, which is likely to cause alarm or annoyance to a person referred to in that sub-section, shall be taken to have done an act referred to in that sub-section. (8) For the purposes of sub-section (2), any person who does any of the acts specified in sub-section (1) in connection with a demand for the repayment of a loan to a moneylender shall be presumed, until the contrary is proved, to act on behalf of the (9) For the purposes of sub-section (4), damage is deemed to be caused to property by the following acts– (a) defacing the property by means of any paint, pen, marker or any other delible or indelible substance or affixing, posting up or displaying 53 on such property any poster, placard, bill, notice, paper or other document; (b) destroying or damaging the property through the use of fire or any other substance; (c) doing any other act of mischief which causes a disadvantageous change in any property or which otherwise diminishes its value or utility.