Kolbe Foundation, in charge of Belize’s only prison, has confirmed that three prisoners – two Guatemalans and a Belizean – broke out of jail this past weekend and remain on the run, but prison officials are otherwise tightlipped.
Officials there have been unresponsive to Amandala’s calls all day today, but this evening we received a copy of a press release from CEO Meliton Auil.
The escapees are Guatemalan Rene Morente, serving time for aggravated burglary and also remanded on a murder charge; Guatemalan Rene Ramos, serving time for carnal knowledge; and Belizean Raul Barahona, serving time for kidnapping and robbery.
Morente lived in Santa Martha, Cayo District, and Barahona in San Andres, Corozal, while Ramos hails from San Agustin, Guatemala.
The escape happened between 2:30 and 2:45 a.m. on Sunday, September 7, during a blackout at the prison. After power was restored, prison officials discovered that the trio had escaped by picking the lock on their cells.
According to the Kolbe release, the prisoners are presumed to be headed to their homes and the public have been asked to stay on the lookout. If you see them, call the prison at 225-6229.
In July, Guatemalans Melvin Zacharias and Jose Interiano, and Belizean Wilfredo Velasquez, escaped in mysterious circumstances from the Kolbe Foundation Central Prison and remain on the loose as of press time tonight.