From a Guatemalan jail to home in Ladyville, that's what the last 24 hours has been like for Belizean Kayla Sanchez who managed to dodge jail time in Guatemala.
She was accused of stealing a cell phone in Melchor. Guatemalan Police charged her for aggravated robbery, but the savvy diplomat Said Guerra convinced the authorities that the police made an error with the charge. Aggravated robbery is an offence where a defendant is accused of using force, such as with a weapon, to steal from a victim. Ambassador Guerra pored over the charge documents and picked up on a wording error in the police report.
Her charge was downgraded, and because the Peten Magistrate was receptive to Ambassador Guerra's intercession on Sanchez's behalf, Sanchez went from facing a possible 6 months in jail, to getting off completely without having to face a criminal trial.
This evening, Guerra spoke with us via telephone and he told us that when he was activated to come to Sanchez's aid, he was expecting the very worst:
Ambassador Said Guerra, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
"It all happened on Sunday afternoon. I was in a reception with the governor of Peten when he got the information. He got a message and he showed me. I immediately informed my CEO about it. So I made my way to Melchor to make sure under the instructions of my CEO, to make sure that her rights wouldn't be violated. Finally, Thursday morning I decided to go and visit with the judge. I didn't know him. I didn't know what his reaction would be. So I met with him. It was a very pleasant meeting that I had with him. He was very courteous, very polite, willing to assist. I must admit that when I first ask to meet with the judge, people who I know, friends of mine who I ask to contact him in order for me to go in and meet with him, had told me and had advise me that this judge is very strict - different from the former one. So I prepared myself psychologically, because I thought that this would be a negative experience for me. Because of all that they had told me, I thought that I wouldn't get anywhere. But it was to my surprise and to their surprise as well when I walk out from there, it was totally different."
Daniel Ortiz
"In sober reflections, is the judge was strict, do you think she would been able to get out of this trouble?"
Ambassador Said Guerra, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
"By no means, she would have gotten out of this trouble. Because they did not want to give her bail in the first place. They say that there is bail for that."
Sanchez arrived in Benque Viejo Town last night around 9:00, and that she is at home with her family in Ladyville tonight.
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