News: Law and Justice

Venezuela’s Oswaldo Alvarez Paz Found Guilty of Spreading False Information

Jul 14th 2011

Opposition ex-governor of Zulia state, Oswaldo Alvarez Paz, during the television interview in which he falsely accused the Vene

On Wednesday Venezuela’s Oswaldo Alvarez Paz was formally convicted of “spreading false information” to the general public by making unsubstantiated claims on national television that his country had “become a safe haven for drug trafficking and terrorism.”

Venezuela Celebrates 200 Years of Independence

Jul 5th 2011

A section of the civic-military parade today in Caracas (Photo: AVN).

Today Venezuelans have been celebrating 200 years of independence with formal ceremonies and cultural events around the country, as well as a giant civic-military parade in Caracas.

Venezuela Prison Siege: Jail Directors Arrested

Jul 3rd 2011

Director of EL Rodeo 2, Luis Rafael Aranguren, is now in custody (noticias365)

Two weeks after deadly rioting sparked an ongoing siege in Venezuela’s notorious El Rodeo jail, authorities say they have arrested two of the prison’s directors on drug and arms trafficking charges.

UN Ratifies Venezuela for Sixth Consecutive Year as a Territory Free of Illicit Drug Cultivation

Jun 27th 2011

Justice minister Tareck El Aissami (archive).

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) ratified, for the sixth consecutive year, the non-existence of illicit drug cultivations in Venezuela.

Venezuelan Forces Respond to Gang Violence, Disarm Prison

Jun 24th 2011

Justice minister Tarek El Aissami talks to press about the prison situation (AVN)

State response to the current prison crisis in Venezuela has been based on a premise of respecting human rights and not engaging lethal violence, despite deadly force employed by some prisoner, argued the Venezuelan government.

Venezuelan Opposition Tries to Demean Law against Silence and Forgetting

Jun 23rd 2011

Iris Varela of the PSUV party says that torture and murder became ‘state policy’ during the 4th Republic (CorreodelOrinoco).

Yesterday Iris Varela of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) accused the Venezuelan opposition of trying to throw ‘a cloak of immunity’ over those who carried out massacres and torture during the era of the 4^th Republic (1958-1998). Varela made the comments after members of the opposition tried to deride the proposed Law Against Silence and Forgetting, which was approved in first discussion by parliament yesterday.

Public Electricity Company Worker Charged with Sabotage

Jun 17th 2011

The Venezuelan government maintains a national state-run electricity company, Corpoelec (Photo: Archive).

Venezuelan authorities Tuesday charged an employee of the state-run electricity company Corpoelec with sabotage, saying the act led to a major electricity failure across several states in May.

Private Clinics to Be Investigated in Venezuela

Jun 16th 2011

Irregularities and illegal practices will be investigated in Venezuela’s private clinics

The Venezuelan government announced it will investigate illegal practices within private health clinics after a number of “irregularities” came to light. In the most severe cases patients died as a result of being denied treatment due to errors with their health insurance code.

Venezuelan Government Creates New Prison Service Ministry

Jun 16th 2011

Community Penitentiary Centre in Coro, Falcón state

In an attempt to “humanise” the country’s penitentiary system, the Venezuelan government announced this Tuesday the creation of a new ministry which will be responsible for the transformation of the nation’s jails.

Venezuelan Government Responds to High Electricity Demand with Measures

Jun 14th 2011

Venezuelan vice-president Elias Jaua and Electricity Minister Ali Rodriguez at a press conference on 12 June 2011 (Photo: Corre

Due to increased electricity use as well as the global need to save energy, the Venezuelan government is implementing a number of measures to encourage the private, public, and domestic sectors to reduce usage.

Crime Drops in Caracas, Venezuela

Jun 7th 2011

The newly established National Bolivarian Police are part of the government’s strategy to decreased crime (archive).

Due to the work of the National Bolivarian Police (PNB), crime is down by 53% in Caracas, according to the Chief of Police. However, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez criticised the killing of three prisoners in a cell of the CICPC, Venezuelan’s crime investigation body.

Venezuelan Government Approves Increase of 80% in Grants for Women Workers in “Food Houses”

Jun 2nd 2011

Women workers at one of Venezuela's "food houses" in the state of Anzoategui (Photo: Abrebrecha.com)

This Tuesday the president of the Republic, Hugo Chávez , approved an increase of 80% in the grants provided to the working mothers who are involved in maintaining “food houses” throughout the country.

Colombian Supreme Court Dismisses Reyes 'FARC Files' as Evidence

May 20th 2011

Documents found on the computers of slain commander "Raul Reyes" were found "inadmissible" by Colombia'

Documents found on computers of slain FARC commander "Raul Reyes" are inadmissible as evidence in court as the material is illegally obtained and provides no evidence, Colombia's Supreme Court ruled Wednesday.

Fugitive Venezuelan Banker Granted Asylum in U.S.

May 19th 2011

Fugitive Venezuelan Banker Eligio Cedeño (Photo: Archive)

18 months after he fled Venezuela to avoid criminal prosecution for what authorities claim were $27 million dollars in illegal currency transactions, a U.S. court granted political asylum to fugitive Venezuelan banker Eligio Cedeño.

Venezuela Extends State of Emergency in 8 States as Rains Persist

May 19th 2011

Vice President Elias Jaua visits the Ochoa sector of the old Caracas-Guarenas highway (ABN)

The Venezuelan government has decided to extend the state of emergency by 90 days in 8 states due to the persistence of heavy rains.