Foreign Minister addresses Sebastian Pop’s abduction and imprisonment: Can he be brought back to Belize?

Posted: Thursday, September 4, 2025. 11:25 am CST.

By Aaron Humes: The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Francis Fonseca, has shed light on the case of Sebastian Pop, a Belizean national abducted by Guatemalan villagers in February 2023 and subsequently convicted of femicide. Pop is currently serving a 30-year prison sentence in Guatemala.

According to Fonseca, Pop was taken by a mob in either Dolores or Otoxha village, after the village’s Alcalde handed him over, fearing for his own safety. The mob accused Pop of raping and killing a local girl, alleged to be his cousin, and he was later convicted based on DNA evidence.

Fonseca emphasized that the government is taking the case very seriously and is working to ensure Pop’s rights are protected while in prison. The embassy in Guatemala is exploring two main options: “The embassy in Guatemala is looking into the matter. We’re looking at two things. One, whether we can appeal his case, that we believe there are certain grounds that we can look at, look at, in terms of an appeal, and get him that support for that appeal. But we’re also looking at the issue of repatriation. You know, there is a provision on the confidence-building measures, that allows for that sort of exchange that has never been used before. Never been implemented. But we’re looking into that issue.”

The Minister acknowledged that Pop’s family had reached out to authorities, including the police, Home Affairs, and Foreign Affairs, but their reports were not followed up. Fonseca attributed some delays to difficulties in obtaining Pop’s birth certificate and verifying his nationality, which took several months to resolve.

Fonseca has instructed the Belizean ambassador in Guatemala to pursue the issue of repatriation or appeal with Guatemalan authorities. The government aims to ensure Pop’s well-being and explore possibilities for his return to Belize or a legal appeal in Guatemala.

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The post Foreign Minister addresses Sebastian Pop’s abduction and imprisonment: Can he be brought back to Belize? appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.

Posted: Thursday, September 4, 2025. 11:25 am CST. By Aaron Humes: The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Francis Fonseca, has shed light on the case of Sebastian
The post Foreign Minister addresses Sebastian Pop’s abduction and imprisonment: Can he be brought back to Belize? appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.