Venezuela's chief prosecutor to target protesters, ousted predecessor in new investigation
Record ID:
906030
Venezuela's chief prosecutor to target protesters, ousted predecessor in new investigation
- Title: Venezuela's chief prosecutor to target protesters, ousted predecessor in new investigation
- Date: 11th August 2017
- Summary: CARACAS, VENEZUELA (AUGUST 11, 2017) (REUTERS) ****WARNING: CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** NEW CHIEF PROSECUTOR TAREK WILLIAM SAAB TALKING TO OFFICIAL AS HE WALKS INTO ROOM TO GIVE NEWS CONFERENCE GENERAL VIEW OF NEWS CONFERENCE WILLIAM SAAB SPEAKING TO MEDIA DEPUTY CHIEF PROSECUTOR KATHERINE HARRINGTON TAKING NOTES (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) NEW CHIEF PROSECUTOR TAREK WILLIAM SAAB, SAYING: "The first announcement, the first decision is that we have decided to open criminal investigations that had not been opened by the public ministry at the time. In this sense, I want to emphasise and to be clear, I'm referring to cases of environmental damage by falling and burning of trees in the context of violent demonstrations." MEDIA FILMING NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) NEW CHIEF PROSECUTOR TAREK WILLIAM SAAB, SAYING: "Here, cases on the street have been reported. Many of you have probably heard about this. Of how dollars have been used to determine if a citizen is guilty or innocent. That's the most serious thing. To determine that in dollars. But I go beyond that, to decide whether you end up accusing that person or not (based on the amount paid). To also determine in dollars if you end up accusing that person or not. I go beyond that, to determine in dollars if you end up giving up a case or not. And here it's worth asking a few questions. For officials from this institution to have done this, they must've had a bad example from the highest order." GENERAL VIEW OF NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) NEW CHIEF PROSECUTOR TAREK WILLIAM SAAB, SAYING: "The TSJ (Supreme Court of Justice) is investigating the (ousted) chief prosecutor (Luisa Ortega Diaz) for a number of crimes ranging from the totally improper use of a private plane to crimes that violated basic laws of public ministry and for citizens. Therefore, it is up to the TSJ, who started those investigations, to make those announcements." GENERAL VIEW OF NEWS CONFERENCE
- Embargoed: 25th August 2017 20:06
- Keywords: chief prosecutor Tarek Saab investigations clashes violence dollars Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro
- Location: CARACAS, VENEZUELA
- City: CARACAS, VENEZUELA
- Country: Venezuela
- Topics: Crime/Law/Justice
- Reuters ID: LVA0016TPRNEV
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Venezuela's new chief prosecutor, Tarek William Saab, announced on Friday (August 11) that new investigations will be opened against anti-government protesters for alleged environmental destruction as well as on his ousted predecessor amidst a growing political stalemate in the divided OPEC nation.
In four months of protests demanding early elections in the country, some 125 people have died. The government has blamed a US-backed opposition for stoking a coup whilst government critics accuse the government of using heavy-handed tactics on the opposition. With anti-government protesters refusing to let up in their movement against President Maduro, Saab announced that the attorney general will pursue protesters in a new investigation alleging the opposition has burnt trees whilst on the streets against the government.
Saab took over the post of chief prosecutor earlier this month after his Socialist predecessor Luisa Ortega Diaz was fired and ordered to stand trial by the pro-government constituent assembly. Although belonging to the same political party of the president, Ortega Diaz emerged as a rogue member and became critical of Maduro's rule over the country.
Now, Ortega Diaz is under investigation for reports of corruption and bribes under her rule in the attorney general as well as allegations of an improper use of a private plane. She has dismissed allegations against her as a witch hunt and told media she now fears for her life. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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