McAfee denied asylum; expected in Belize

By Sonia Perez-Diaz

Associated Press

Published: Thursday, Dec. 6 2012 10:35 a.m. MST

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In this image released by Guatemala's National Police on Wednesday Dec. 5, 2012, software company founder John McAfee is pictured after being arrested for entering the country illegally Wednesday Dec. 5, 2012 in Guatemala City. The anti-virus guru was detained at a hotel in an upscale Guatemala City neighborhood with the help of Interpol agents hours after he said he would seek asylum in the Central American country. (AP Photo/Guatemala's National Police)

Associated Press

Summary

A lawyer for software company founder John McAfee says he has been denied political asylum in Guatemala, paving the way for his deportation to Belize.

GUATEMALA CITY — A lawyer for software company founder John McAfee says he has been denied political asylum in Guatemala, paving the way for his deportation to Belize.

Police in Belize, where McAfee is sought for questioning in connection with the killing of a fellow U.S. expatriate, say they expect him to be returned shortly.

Attorney Karla Paz told The Associated Press on Thursday that Guatemalan authorities had informed McAfee's team that his request had been denied. McAfee was in a Guatemalan immigration detention center after his arrest for illegally entering the country ended a bizarre weekslong journey as a self-styled fugitive with an active blog and constant contact with the press.

Belizean police spokesman Raphael Martinez said officials expected McAfee to be flown back to the capital.

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