GUATEMALA: U.S. software guru John McAfee suffers heart attacks during Guatemala detention, says lawyer

Record ID: 702487

  • Title: GUATEMALA: U.S. software guru John McAfee suffers heart attacks during Guatemala detention, says lawyer
  • Date: 6th December 2012
  • Summary: GUATEMALA CITY, GUATEMALA (DECEMBER 6, 2012) (REUTERS) GENERAL OF RESIDENCE BELONGING TO THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT MORE OF RESIDENCE U.S. CONSUL LEAVING RESIDENCE BELONGING TO THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT ON BOARD VEHICLE GENERAL VIEW OF RESIDENCE BELONGING TO THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT GUARDED BY A SMALL GROUP OF POLICE MEDIA TALKING TO MCAFEE'S LAWYER TELESFORO GUERRA (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) MCAFEE'S LAWYER TELESFORO GUERRA, SAYING: "I spoke to the U.S. consulate yesterday and they said they were going to see what they could do. It's funny because the first thing American authorities have always done is to watch over for the well-being of their citizens and for their rights to be respected. In this case, there is a previous arrangement, I imagine, some requirement by the government of Belize so that the embassy, looking after the rights of its citizens, does not interfere." GENERAL VIEW OF MEDIA WITH LAWYER (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) MCAFEE'S LAWYER TELESFORO GUERRA, SAYING: "He had two heart attacks last night (reporter asks: At what time?). At dawn. (Reporter says, "but he's been updating his blog"). I don't think a heart attack prevents one from using one's blog. I don't know anything about medicine." GUERRA WALKING INTO RESIDENCE
  • Embargoed: 21st December 2012 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Guatemala
  • Country: Guatemala
  • Topics: Crime
  • Reuters ID: LVA9T2UOSBWPGS8RWB55BC6BQ22K
  • Story Text: The lawyer of U.S. software guru John McAfee said on Thursday (December 6) his client suffered mild heart attacks after his detention by Guatemalan authorities.
    McAfee has been on the run and arrived in Guatemala City on Wednesday after fleeing Belize where is wanted for questioning on the death of his neighbour.
    McAfee's lawyer, Telesforo Guerra, also said he had spoken with the U.S. Embassy.
    "I spoke to the U.S. consulate yesterday and they said they were going to see what they could do. It's funny because the first thing American authorities have always done is to watch over for the well-being of their citizens and for their rights to be respected. In this case, there is a previous arrangement, I imagine, some requirement by the government of Belize so that the embassy, looking after the rights of its citizens, does not interfere," Guerra said.
    A U.S. Embassy official in Guatemala declined to comment "for privacy considerations."
    McAfee has not been taken to the hospital, Telesforo Guerra said. He also posted on his blog throughout the morning hours.
    "He had two heart attacks last night (reporter asks: At what time?). At dawn. (Reporter says, "but he's been updating his blog"). I don't think a heart attack prevents one from using one's blog. I don't know anything about medicine," Guerra told reporters.
    Still, Guerra said McAfee could not be moved from the immigration shelter until his health had been cleared by medical officials. They had drawn blood and results are expected in a few hours.
    Guatemala also said on Thursday, in a news release, it had rejected an asylum request by McAfee.
    Police in Belize want to quiz McAfee as "a person of interest" in the killing of fellow American Gregory Faull, with whom the 67-year-old had quarrelled. But they say he is not a prime suspect in their investigation.
    McAfee crossed the border into Guatemala with his 20-year-old girlfriend and says he is afraid the Belize authorities will kill him if he returns. Belize's prime minister has denied the claim and called McAfee paranoid and "bonkers."
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