7 News Belize

When Is Kayla Coming Home
posted (February 3, 2016)

On Monday, we told you about 25 year-old Belizean Kayla Sanchez who was arrested in Melchor. She has been charged with aggravated robbery for the theft of a cellular phone.

Well, for the past 2 nights, she's has been on a remand at a Guatemalan Prison in San Benito, Peten, a facility very much like Belize's Central Prison. Foreign Affairs diplomat Said Guerra has been on the case ever since she was arrested by the Guatemalan police, and right now he's in Peten. He's trying to get her home, or at the very least, to see that she has a fair trial before a court. She has still not been arraigned before a Guatemalan judge, and that is expected to take place tomorrow.

The problem right now is the language barrier, because Sanchez does not speak enough Spanish to understand what is happening. Said Guerra will remain in Peten until she is taken before the judge, and it is expected that he will act as her interpreter and advisor.

Sanchez's story, we understand, is that she was falsely accused, but if she is convicted in the Guatemalan court, she could be facing 6 months in jail.

Our information is that she went to Melchor this weekend. She was in the Central Park in that town when she was surrounded a detained by a group of Guatemalan residents who say that she stole a cellular phone. Police officers noticed the commotion and immediately detained her before the citizen's arrest turned into a mob.

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