Ombudsman Tareck William Saab reaffirmed this Wednesday that this instance of the Republican Moral Power has legal powers to investigate human rights violations.
This clarification was made after the ruling issued by the Supreme Court of Justice (TSJ) that resolved an appeal to interpret the actions of the Ombudsman’s Office in these cases, filed on June 13 by Saab.
During a press conference, held from the headquarters of the Ombudsman’s Office in Caracas, Saab said that this body’s objective is to protect, defend, educate and investigate everything related to violations committed against human rights.
«The Ombudsman’s Office will have the quality to investigate ex officio or at the request of a party the complaints that come to its knowledge,» Saab said in a broadcast by VTV, referring to Article 281 of the Constitution, which establish the powers of this body.
According to the ruling, the Office of the Ombudsman: «May have access to all the investigative acts before the Public Prosecutor’s Office, the courts in ordinary criminal and military criminal jurisdiction, auxiliary organs of justice and police and penitentiary centers».
Saab denounced that the Ombudsman’s obstruction in the investigation of the cases attempts against the victims who have been subjected to human rights violations, impairing the right to justice.
«Contrary to this action there must be in any moment collaboration to investigate human rights violations so as not to conflict with the Public Ministry in relation to the leadership of the criminal action», he said.
Saab stressed that this clarification is not intended to generate a dispute with the Public Ministry, responsible for releasing the criminal action, that is, to impute, qualify and accuse citizens who commit a crime.
