- Title: GUATEMALA: Software guru McAfee wants to return to United States
- Date: 10th December 2012
- Summary: GUATEMALA CITY, GUATEMALA (RECENT - DECEMBER 6, 2012) (REUTERS) POLICE WALKING OUTSIDE DETENTION CENTRE VARIOUS OF POLICE OUTSIDE DETENTION CENTRE
- Embargoed: 25th December 2012 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Guatemala
- Country: Guatemala
- Topics: Crime,Business,Industry
- Reuters ID: LVA8IJIZBH8KYHACP2T9JU2FF9NP
- Story Text: Software guru John McAfee, fighting deportation from Guatemala to Belize to face questions about the slaying of a neighbour, said on Sunday (December 09) he wants to return to the United States.
McAfee, who had been in hiding for three weeks, crossed into Guatemala with his 20-year-old girlfriend to evade authorities in Belize who wanted to quiz him as "a person of interest" about the killing of fellow American Gregory Faull.
In a turn of events, Guatemalan police arrested on Wednesday (December 05) John McAfee for illegally entering the country and said it would seek to expel him back to Belize.
Running out of options and fearing for his life, the tech tycoon said during an internet news conference that he has no choice but to return to the United States.
"Have I considered returning to the U.S.? Absolutely that is my only hope now. It is clear, in the last few weeks since I started my blog, that I cannot ever return to Belize. My blog, the issues that I am discussing, are hurting the government, they are hurting tourism, tourism accounts for over 70% of all the employment in Belize. The government was mad at me before; they're seriously mad at me now. There is no hope for my life if I am ever returning to Belize," said McAfee.
Hours after his arrest by Guatemalan officials, McAfee was rushed to a hospital for what his lawyer said were two mild heart attacks. Later he said the problem was stress and has fainted after days of heavy smoking, poor eating and knocking his head against a wall.
McAfee's behaviour has been increasingly erratic in recent years and Belize's prime minister has doubted his mental health-- doubts the U.S. citizen rejected during his webcast.
"I do not take drugs and have not taken drugs for over 30 years. I do not drink. I haven't taken a drop of alcohol. If I were to slip, please, wouldn't I take a good drug? I do have the resources. I do not have to resort to taking the worst drug in the world," added McAfee.
Guatemala rejected McAfee's request for asylum on Thursday (December 06). His lawyers then filed several appeals to block his deportation. They say it could take months to resolve the matter.
One of Silicon Valley's first entrepreneurs to build an Internet fortune, the 67-year-old made millions of dollars through the antivirus software that now carries his name.
McAfee's lawyer in Guatemala is seeking an injunction to have him released and the American said on his blog that he would not now be returned to the Belize border until a higher judge reviewed the case.
His run-in with authorities in Belize is a world away from a successful life in the United States, where the former Lockheed systems consultant started McAfee Associates in the late 1980s. McAfee has no relationship now with the company, which was sold to Intel Corp. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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