Tonight, Joseph Budna remains imprisoned in a Guatemala City jail. His attorney tells us that so far he has not seen a judge, nor has he been told if they are resuming his 25 year sentence which he escaped from in 2019. And Budna continues to demand that the government of Belize work to ensure his return since he was abducted by state agents.
But, we know that's not going to happen because the police have not even once circulated a picture of the type of vehicle he was abducted in - nor have they asked for the public's help finding it.
There is - we can only conclude - every indication of a cover up - and it starts with the glaring fact that a citizen was abducted in plain view of security cameras owned by the government of Belize - and no charges have been brought against the kidnapper who appeared in the video and were seen by police officers at the Orange Walk station. Jules Vasquez looks at the crime of kidnapping:
This is a kidnapping, clear as day for the whole world to see. Veteran police officers who have reviewed this grainy video tell us that they can make out at least two of the persons in here as cops. At least two of them do not have masks - and the police investigators who are in possession of the original video surveillance files can probably make out who they are. Corporal Choco who walked up to them surely know who they are. Joseph Budna has already identified one of them as PC Barry Flowers - an identification the acting commissioner of police found so credible that he put Flowers on interdiction one month ago:
Bart Jones, Deputy Commissioner of Police
"The call actually was mine. what the evidence that has come forward so far where he has been identified, the only person who has been identified so far"
Jules Vasquez:
"Why hasn't Constable Barry Flowers been arrested and charged if Bart Jones, former Acting Compol said that he was identified? Mr. Budna has identified him."
Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs
"If you would recall the context of that identification. I believe it was your good self being the independent, the good independent investigator that you are that showed footage to Budna"
"And then you showed him an image. And did he not say? That is the man. So that is the identification that resulted in the deputy commissioner then placing Bart Jones on interdiction"
Jules Vasquez:
"Placing Barry Flowers."
Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs
"No. But Bart Jones placed Barry Flowers on interdiction based on your and Budna's identification"
So, if Barry Flowers has been identified to the satisfaction of the second most senior police officer in the land - why has he not been charged? Maybe it's because kidnapping is not a minor offense. Indeed, at section 54, the criminal code says that a person found guilty of kidnapping can get life in prison for it:
Dickie Bradley, Attorney
"They were seen beating and they were seen taking away a man who ended up in enemy territory. They can be charged. They should be charged now there is no hold up with that they should be charged and why have they not been charged? Because if they are charged, kidnapping in this country is many, many years in prison. They're not going to pay the fine."
Budna alleges that the Embassy in Guatemala has been colluding with prison authorities to make sure he does not have a phone or internet access so that he can't communicate with this media house.
