By Belize Live News Staff: Attorney Arthur Saldivar has confirmed that a formal application will soon be filed to have Joseph Budna returned to Belize as his legal case heads to court in November.
Budna, who was kidnapped in August 2025, has been at the center of a complex cross-border controversy involving Guatemalan authorities. According to Saldivar, the application will be made under the International Mutual Cooperation Act, which provides a framework for mutual legal assistance between countries.
“There is an act, the International Mutual Corporation Act, that allows for it to happen,” Saldivar said. “Application will be made pursuant to that act, and we see where it goes from there.”
If the request is denied, Saldivar said alternative legal measures will be considered. Should Budna be returned to Belize, he is expected to remain at the Kolbe Foundation during the trial.
The Association of Defence Attorneys, represented by Saldivar, has taken on the case, calling it a “major constitutional infraction” that raises questions about due process and international cooperation.
Saldivar also criticized the lack of transparency surrounding the incident, referencing how other high-profile cases, such as that of Goldburn Glenford “Easy Glen” Adolphus, saw immediate public release of surveillance footage.
“In Budna’s case, the footage remains heavily redacted,” Saldivar said. “Once there’s a video, it should be made public so the community can help identify the culprits. That’s the essence of community policing.”
Meanwhile, Attorney Richard “Dickie” Bradley also spoke on the case, noting that if anyone is found complicit in the kidnapping, they could face serious penalties under Belize’s Criminal Code, ranging from 10 years to life imprisonment.
