The Venezuelan authorities sent former senator Aída Merlano to Colombia via deportation, who was detained on January 27, 2020 in the El Milagro sector of Maracaibo (Zulia).
The deportation to Colombia de Merlano was informed by the foreign ministry of that country through a release where they state that “today (Friday, March 10, 23) former congresswoman Aída Merlano is being transferred from Venezuela to Colombia.”
The text explains that this transfer does not occur as a result of an extradition request “which at the time was submitted to Mr. Juan Guaidó, without any effectiveness, but because of deportationa measure recognized by International Law, taken by the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela”.
And it adds in its final paragraph that “both countries have requested the respect and full guarantee of the rights of Mrs. Merlano, for which they have requested the presence of the corresponding judicial authority and the Ombudsman’s Office.”
Once Merlano was arrested in Maracaibo, he was charged with the crimes of using a false document, identity theft and association.
In the imputation hearing, carried out before the 13th Control Court of Zulia, the Public Ministry proposed that the headquarters of the Bolivarian National Intelligence Service (Sebin), located in El Helicoide, Caracas, be set as a place of detention, which which was granted.
In February of that same year, Merlano was transferred to the Palace of Justice in Caracas where she declared herself persecuted by the then Colombian president Iván Duque, for which she asked Venezuela for protection.
At that hearing, the former congresswoman denounced the buying of votes by different Colombian presidents, including Álvaro Uribe Vélez, Juan Manuel Santos and Duque himself. She stated that she had proof of this and was willing to deliver it.
At 9:05 am this Friday, Miguel Ángel del Río Malo, Merlano’s lawyer, wrote a tweet that says “Aida on the way.”
