McAfee founder claims persecution in Belize
BELIZE CITY (AP) — The founder of the computer virus software company McAfee, Inc. says he is being persecuted by police in his home in the Central American country of Belize.
John McAfee told The Associated Press that officers from the country's Gang Suppression Unit raided his home late last month in what they called a search for illegal drugs and ammunition. McAfee said he is being punished for refusing to donate money to a local politician.
Police on Monday declined a request to comment.
McAfee told the AP on Friday that he was leaving his home and turning off his cell phone in order to hide in an undisclosed location because he was afraid for his safety. He could not be reached for further comment.
McAfee told The New York Times in 2009 that he had lost all but $4 million of his $100 million in the U.S. financial crisis, and was moving to Belize in order to pay less taxes. He sold his stake in the anti-virus company in the early 90s.
He said that police who raided his gated home in the town of Orange Walk handcuffed his employees and held them for hours before releasing them without charge. He says he had weapons in his compound, including a 9mm pistol, but they were all legal under Belizean regulations. He alleged that the raid was retaliation for not giving money to politician ahead of general elections last month. McAfee declined to name the politician, saying only that "he was not reelected."
"I am not a man of great stature or anything, why did they have to send over 60 officers to come get me at my compound?" he said.
