Joseph Budna Escapes from Guatemalan Authorities Yet Again
Joseph Budna
Thirty-eight-year-old Joseph Budna, a Belizean inmate who is serving a thirty year sentence in a Guatemalan prison for kidnapping and escape, has once again escaped from lawful custody. His flight from a regional hospital in San Benito is the second time he has absconded from authorities in that country. In 2014, the former freelance reporter managed to flee from a trio of prison officers assigned to escort him to a hospital in Zacapa where he was receiving medical treatment. He was later captured in Jocotan, Chiquimula and was slapped with an additional five years, on top of a twenty-five year sentence. Today, Commissioner of Police Chester Williams informed the media that an all-points bulletin has been issued for his arrest should he appear in Belize.
Chester Williams
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“We were alerted yesterday by [the Ministry of] 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 have also put out an all points bulletin here in Belize with a view to apprehend Joseph Budna and once he is apprehended then we will 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
“Sir, do you all have or is there any information from the counterparts on the other side that he is indeed trying to head to Belize?”
Chester Williams
“Well, he is a Belizean and so we anticipate that he will try to make his way back home with a view to elude the justice system in Guatemala. I will say that Guatemala, for the most part, especially our counterparts in Melchor, have been very helpful to us in Belize. Whenever we have Guatemalans who are wanted here in Belize, they have exercised that diplomatic channel with a view to assist us in getting those persons to Belize and so I think that as a matter of reciprocity, if he’s apprehended it will be a matter for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Government of Belize to decide how we move from there.”
