Guatemalan fugitive and his children caught in Mexico with Belizean passports
Tonight, there is absolutely no good news for Belize where immigration is concerned. In fact, there is much more to add to government’s woes. There are breaking reports that a suspected killer on the run in Mexico was found carrying Belizean passports that may not be legitimate. Guatemalan Roberto Barreda has been a fugitive since August 2011. He is believed to have killed his wife, Cristina Siekavizza, on July sixth, 2011 before running with their two children to parts unknown. Siekavizza has never been found, but blood found in the home and reports of an argument between the two on the night she disappeared, has led authorities to believe she is dead even though her body has never been found. Barreda was apprehended by Mexican authorities last Friday in Merida, Yucatan, where he had allegedly resided since entering Mexico in January 2012. And that’s where Belize enters the picture. According to today’s issue of Prensa Libre, Mexican authorities have confirmed that when they found Barreda, he was carrying Belizean documents, including a passport in a false name. The headline goes as far as to state that Barreda used his Belizean documents to enter Mexico. Barreda had changed his name to mask his identity, so the Belizean passport was issued to Carlos Roberto Barreira Villareal.
Another leading Guatemalan newspaper, Siglo Veinti-uno, expands on the connection between Belize and Roberto Barreda. The headline’s for Tuesday’s edition reads that Barreda received money from his family and friends through Belize. That article states that, “The first findings in the investigation to determine how Roberto Barreda De Leon, managed to remain anonymous for over two years, along with his children, reveal that he received money from family and friends via Belize, a country to which he traveled frequently.” Barreda has been deported to Guatemala where he is being tried for the murder of his wife and obstruction of justice. Barreda’s mother, former President of the Guatemala Supreme Court Beatriz Ofelia de Leon, is also being charged for obstruction of justice. It is believed that she facilitated her son’s departure from Mexico. Barreda appeared in court earlier today, but the case was delayed because his attorney withdrew himself from the case. That, however, is believed to be a tactic to delay the proceedings. Today our attempts to verify the reports in the Prensa Libre were unsuccessful. We also tried to reach C.E.O. in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Alexis Rosado, but he was in meetings all day.
How much of the stench will we put up with? It is our inaction and cowardice as a people that has allowed politicians to trample all over the constitution and our good name. Our passport is now synonymous with corruption. It opens the door to harassment to those of us who travel the world. Shame on us! This government needs to go now!
No surprise here am sure their are thousands more like this this udp gov selling belizean citizenship to Guatemalans imagine what traitors these udp gov is I say lock them all up and throw away the key.
“that may not be legitimate”
Only if you buy a passport with a minister –NOT– getting a cut.
Does not have to elected, just a minister or minister of state will do.
Regardless, Belizean passports are worthless, just like the ship registered under Belizean flags.
It is all corruption business for criminals who need extra resources, a misdirection the Belizean passport offers.
Time for PM and minister of Foreign Affairs to push to get our citizen out of Guatemalan jails, back home to the jewel where he paid to hide.
Wow…this is what selling passport lead to. It’s amazing why so many people are willing to pay, whatever amount of money it takes to be able to hide their identity, and we are contributing to this kind of scam by selling. Our moral compass have gone wild! We had Honwong Kin in our sight, who was actually in prison but was willing to help him evade justice, as long as he had the dollars!
The love of ill gotten money is now even stained with blood. I am waiting to hear which minister facilitated these sets of documents. How can we as a people do this kind of act that puts murderers in freedom, possible terrorists in countries such as the US. Do these ministers even asks themselves what are the possible things that can happen if I sell such a important document.
A woman is dead and the person responsible for issuing the passport probably have already spent the money. The minster who issued these documents should be charged with hindering justice. There has to be some standards set.
Shame and scandal! How signed his passport application? I have no respect for any of our “leaders”. The Chiny bwai did the best thing just don’t come back; is there anywhere we can send the rest of them?
These immigration officials are like.prostitues they would sell their soul for money.shame on them so they assist criminals says a lot about immigration officials treat the regular Belizean populice bad to get a passport but give it away for money shame on yall business in jail
and their goes the corruption again and well represented by our leaders..What a shame!!
It is time to also round up the “facilitators” who were the middle men between the crooks receiving the illegal passports and the crooks signing the illegal passports. Both set of crooks did well financially so it would seem. Follow the money.