Desmond Tillett, the brother of Joseph Budna is detained at police headquarters in Belmopan. According to his family, police picked him up for cyber-bullying, accusing him of operating Budna's Facebook page - which this afternoon put up a post making accusations against the commissioner and leading politicians. Well we spoke with Budna and Tillett's wife via phone and this is what they told us:
Voice of: Joseph Budna, Imprisoned
"This is a political persecution against our family because the government is trying to silent us as to back off from one the civil suit that we have against the government or I have against the government and also they believe that he is posting which they are totally wrong because the person who is posting is out of the country of Belize. I am NOT a fool to allow anyone of my family member to post on my Facebook page when I know that cybercrime unit is being used politically to hush, silent anyone who try to speak up against the Briceno administration so that is one analysis that I made before I authorize a person outside of the country of Belize I have a friend there, I don't want to mention where but that person is in charge of the Facebook and also I have a second person as well not in Belize because I know that cybercrime will be going after my family or anyone who they believe is posting."
Voice of: Dawn Tillett, Sister in law of Budna
"I was at work, and so my husband made a call to me quickly and told me that the police officers are at our home in Belmopan. They are detaining him."
"They took him to the Belmopan police station. They're detaining him because they believe that he's the one making the post using Joseph Budna's Facebook and making the post, whatever post. I'm not sure if there's something heavy that was posted against whoever, but yeah, that is the one making the post. If they could notice the Facebook page for Joseph Budna is constantly being loaded with stuff right now, even when they have my husband in custody."
Reporter
"How does this directly affect the family with him now being detained, and possibly charged?"
Voice of: Dawn Tillett, Sister in law of Budna
"Well, Jaleeza, I am at school, and I am not functioning like I should. Really, it's tough. It's really tough. Because after being married for so many years, and I'm dependable on my husband, it's a tough situation to be in right now."
Reporter
"All right, lastly, what are you calling from the police police department to do?"
Voice of: Dawn Tillett, Sister in law of Budna
"That they would release my husband because the evidence is as clear as night and day that he is not the one making those posts, he's not the one making those posts."
Budna spoke from a public phone at his jail.
We note that the Ryan Budna page remains active even with Tillett being detained.
