Joseph Budna, the Belizean who has been serving a 25-year prison sentence in Guatemala for kidnapping in that country's Supreme Court, has escaped from the authorities there for a second time.
He was convicted back in 2013, even though he has insisted that he is innocent, and in April 2014, 8 months after his case ended, he gave the Guat. authorities the slip while he was admitted to a hospital.
He was recaptured, and news coming out of Guatemala is that yesterday morning, he managed to successfully escape from the Guatemalan authorities yet again. And again, Budna slipped away from police while he was getting treatment at the Regional San Benito Hospital.
At a press conference this morning, Police Commissioner Chester Williams told us law enforcement at all the border entry points are on the look-out for him, if he attempts to enter Belize:
Chester Williams - Police Commissioner
"We were alerted yesterday by Foreign Affairs, that he had escaped from some hospital in Guatemala, or somewhere in Guatemala, and is currently being sought by Guatemalan Authorities. And so, yes, we've also put out an all points bulletin here in Belize, with a view to apprehend Joseph Budna. And once he's apprehended, then we'll go through the necessary protocols, through Foreign Affairs, to see where it goes from there."
Reporter
"Do we have extradition protocols with Guatemala?"
Chester Williams
"We don't, but we can have some agreement. There is no extradition treaty, but by way of protocol, we can make arrangements?"
Reporter
"Is there any information from your counterparts on the other side that he is indeed trying to head to Belize?"
Chester Williams
"Well, he's a Belizean, and so we would anticipate that he would try to make his way back home, with a view to elude the justice system in Guatemala."
At this time, there are reports coming out of Mexico that a body has been found on a major highway in the Mexican state of Michoacan - which is a long, long way from San Benito Guatemala. Some are making the connection to Budna, but it is very very premature, and very very far, so we'll wait and see.
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