The Attorney General of the Republic, Tarek William Saab, reported that after 72 hours of riots, a total of 1,062 people have been arrested for participating in these acts of vandalism in different states of the country.
The head of the Public Prosecutor’s Office indicated during a press conference at that headquarters that these detainees – who tried to set the country on fire from Monday, June 29 to date – will go through a full investigation process where justice will prevail.
Saab explained that if it could be determined that they were not involved in the events, there will be justice here and they will be released. If their guilt is proven, they will be charged.
He said that unlike in 2017, “here there is a Public Prosecutor’s Office and a justice system that will not allow an escalation of these embryonic civil wars.”
He warned that there is what he called an “information blackout,” referring to videos of extreme violence and destruction perpetrated by riot groups backed by opposition sectors.
He explained that on social media, no students, unions, members of social movements, or peaceful demonstrations have been observed, but on the contrary, through digital platforms there are a large number that promote violence and vandalism in the country.
He regretted that, as a result of these events, 77 officials were injured and one was killed in the state of Aragua.
Candle extinguished. The prosecutor presented a video showing these criminal actions of the so-called Comanditos and added that “there we could see a summary of attacks on BusCaracas, injuries, the way in which they almost killed an official who was almost murdered and stole his motorcycle.
He said that these rebels are using Structured Organized Crime Groups (Gedo) to carry out all kinds of vandalism, using criminal language and simulating punishable acts.
Charges and arrests.
Saab appointed the 2nd National Prosecutor’s Office that will charge those responsible for crimes of simulating a punishable act and disseminating messages that cause anxiety to the population
In Nueva Esparta, he questioned the attack on Hidrocaribe and stated that there will be no clemency: “There will be justice, they say there is no water, but who attacks the facilities and leaves them without service?”
Also in Miranda, citizen José Melendre was arrested. Aboard a pick-up truck, he was delivering tires and other objects to terrorist groups, with the aim of obstructing public roads and carrying out acts of vandalism to create chaos.
Another point was La Guaira where the criminals Harey Romero and Jefferson Padrón, who presented themselves as leaders of an extremist group, were arrested and will be charged.
He congratulated both the officials of the Ministry and those of the Bolivarian National Armed Forces (FANB) because they prevented the extreme right from maintaining its long-standing terrorist plan and asserted that the Prosecutor’s Office has open files in progress against several masterminds and does not rule out new arrests.
Guarimba equals terrorism
Attorney General Tarek William Saab said that those who participate in the Guarimbas that seek to destabilize the nation will be prosecuted on charges of terrorism, a penalty that, according to the highest authority, is punishable by 15 to 30 years in prison.
He assured that his office will not take the same reins as the administration that preceded it, which he recalled “took complete inaction so that demonstrations could take place freely as a right.”
Saab added that these actions “are not a right, but crimes and are classified as serious offenses, because inciting hatred, marking houses and seeking to burn people for being Chavistas, that is a very serious crime.”
