The Attorney General of the Republic, Tarek William Saab, assured this Sunday in an interview with the “Abriendo Puertas” (Openiong Doors) program, broadcast privately, that the review of the cases of those detained for participating in the acts of post-electoral violence has nothing to do with any NGO, as has been spread on many social networks and media outlets.
In this sense, he pointed out that the releases “have occurred because the Public Ministry, along with the corresponding courts are doing their job after the review of each case, including the meeting with the relatives of the detainees.» Saab was emphatic in insisting that they “will continue to receive the relatives of the detainees because there is direct contact to evaluate each of the cases.»
“We have carried out the review of measures for releases, following the call of the President of the Republic, Nicolás Maduro, but the victims of terrorism must be made visible, they must know that these people have mourners too. There were 28 murdered and 190 injured and the destruction of at least 500 public institutions”, as indicated the prosecutor.
He also valued the respect for Human Rights guaranteed by the Venezuelan State and insisted on the position of the Public MInistry to make visible the victims and the perpetrators of these actions that had a coordinate, “and which were ordered by those who are now fugitives”. However, he noted that “currently we have total calm and coexistence in the country”.
It should be remembered that between Friday and Saturday (last week) 225 alternative measures have been granted, required in accordance with article 285 of the Constitution of the Republic, which establishes that the Public Ministry is responsible for ensuring compliance with constitutional rights and guarantees in judicial proceedings.
Regarding the presumption that there are children detained in the context of the post-election protests, Saab commented: What is the chronological age of a child? From a newborn baby to 10 years old. Between 11 and 13 you are a pre-adolescent. Between 14 and 17 you are a teenager. Then, saying that and starting to make propaganda with that, is an extremely disgraceful thing(…). The LOPNA (Law of protection of Children and Adolescents) prohibits the prosecution of children, of youths under 14 years old. Therefore it is a lie, because the law prohibits it”.
Regarding the treatment of the detainees, he assured: “They receive medical attention, our prosecutors visit them. We have all the records of said visits, of said attention, of said reviews of measures that were granted in a first stage. Other cases are being reviewed in a coordinated manner as established by law.”
Regarding the accusations of human rights violations, he emphasized: “In Venezuela, what you have said that has been spread by the international media, is not true. It does not exist. Cases are being reviewed here. Cases are being processed. Whoever is innocent will be released. Whoever is found guilty will be convicted.”
Corruption cases:
During the program, Tarek William Saab also referred to the progress in the corruption cases being handled by the Public Prosecutor’s Office. On this subject, he pointed out: “If we go to the subject of the oil industry: 34 corruption plots in PDVSA. We have prosecuted several former ministers (…). We issued a statement explaining the reason for these arrests and later we will communicate the scope of all the investigations we have done.”
He also stressed: “There are 9,362 accusations. 21,851 charges in the last seven years; and they have obtained approximately 6,000 convictions.”
Regarding Edmundo González Urrutia’s statements on that he will return to Venezuela to be sworn in as president-elect (on January 10, 2025), Saab stressed: «That is a joke, but a macabre one. Why is it a macabre joke? Because the National Assembly is the one that swears in the person who has been elected president. In this case, the electoral result transmitted, verified by both the National Electoral Council and the Electoral Chamber of the TSJ, is that President Nicolás Maduro Moros will be sworn in on January 10.»