According to the Public Ministry, 716 state security officers and 40 civilians have been indicted for alleged human rights violations in the last three years and eight months.

In a May 1 statement, the prosecutor appointed by the National Constituent Assembly, Tarek William Saab, reported that 540 officers from different agencies and 31 civilians have been apprehended.

Saab highlighted the cases of Captain Rafael Acosta Arévalo and Councilor Fernando Albán, both dead in State custody, and the case of university student Juan Pablo Pernalete, who lost his life after being hit in the chest with a tear gas canister while exercising his constitutional right to protest.

Captain Acosta

Saab confirmed that Captain Acosta Arévalo was tortured and killed. “On October 22, a new indictment hearing was held against the two officers involved in the crimes of intentional homicide committed with treachery and torture. On November 13 of last year, the corresponding charges were presented”.

Councilor Albán

Regarding Albán, Saab pointed out that the Public Ministry requested a new investigation and an arrest warrant against the two officers who were guarding him for the crimes of negligent homicide, violation of custody rules, conspiracy, and facilitating the escape of a detainee.

In 2018, the Prosecutor’s Office claimed that Albán had committed suicide. At that time, the prosecutor reported that Albán asked to go to the bathroom and, ”evading his condition of prisoner,” ran to a panoramic window on the tenth floor and jumped into the void.

Juan Pablo Pernalete

Some 12 officers of the Bolivarian National Guard were charged with pre-intentional homicide in a degree of complicity against Juan Pablo Pernalete, Saab said.

From different means, the national government had promoted a version according to which the death of the young man was caused by a “captive bolt pistol”, which sought to evade the responsibility of the state agents.

The head of the Public Minister added that “there are other relevant cases, including the execution of five men that occurred in the El Limón neighborhood, in La Guaira. In this case, five officers of the National Bolivarian Police were charged with aggravated murder for futile motives, improper use of a service firearm, and simulation of a punishable act.”

Restructuring of the National Police

The prosecutor announced, once again, the restructuring of the Bolivarian National Police” as part of the voluntary commitments acquired by the Venezuelan State (with the International Criminal Court),” said Saab.

The prosecutor reiterated that the actions of the International Criminal Court are only justified if the country’s judicial bodies do not guarantee justice to the victims.

The Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) has already determined that there are reasonable grounds to believe that crimes against humanity were committed in Venezuela. Outgoing prosecutor Fatou Bensouda is expected to issue the first statement on the matter during the presentation of the preliminary examination, scheduled for the first half of this year.

The preliminary examination is currently in phase 3. The ICC Prosecutor’s Office is studying whether valid trials are being carried out in Venezuela against the senior officials responsible for the crimes. Analysts explain that if the ICC considers that the Venezuelan authorities are complying with the due process, it could refrain from opening a formal investigation.

Translated by José Rafael Medina