Prominent Venezuelan Business Leader, Eligio Cedeno, Denied Right to Fair
Trial, Again
Political motives keep Cedeno in Prison for more than a year without due
process
CARACAS, Venezuela, March 13 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Eligio Cedeno,
President of Bolivar-Banpro Financial Group of Venezuela, continued to remain
in prison without due process after Venezuelan prosecutors did not show up to
his legal hearing for the third time in a month. Through constant delay by
the government, Mr. Cedeno has now been detained for more than a year while
being denied his right to an impartial trial, right to reasonable bail, right
to seek medical treatment, and his right to present evidence in his defense.
On February 8, 2007, Mr. Cedeno was arrested in a rare and politically
motivated crack down by Venezuelan officials against business executives who
were viewed as sympathetic to opposition parties and who had access to U.S.
dollars. Mr. Cedeno was unjustly accused by the Venezuelan Attorney General of
aiding Consorcio Microstar with illegal U.S. dollar transactions. He
voluntarily presented himself before the government without counsel and has
been deprived of his liberty ever since.
This case was postponed by Judge Gabriela Salazar of Court 23 in Venezuela
after the General District Attorney's Office of Venezuela once again did not
appear for his trial. No advanced notice or explanation for these inexcused
absences has been provided by Venezuelan prosecutors.
"Generally in a criminal case, it is the defendant who does not appear for
trial and becomes a fugitive. Here, it is Venezuela's prosecutors who are
absconding in an attempt to hide from their continuing disregard of due
process and judicial transparency," said Victor Cerda, an attorney
representing Cedeno in the United States. "This situation should raise the ire
of the international human rights community and foreign investors, as business
executives are threatened with prolonged detention while they are denied the
fundamental right to present exonerating evidence before an impartial
judiciary. As in the case of Mr. Cedeno, this happens while their business
assets are slowly siphoned off or extorted by the government and its
supporters."
Independent critics have stated that the case is marred with irregularities
and oversights. It is suspected among the legal community that the Venezuelan
government has little evidence to prove the accusations charged against
Cedeno. The hearing in the Cedeno case is rescheduled for March 18th. It will
only occur if representatives of the Venezuelan Attorney General attend.
SOURCE Cedel International
Matt J. Lauer, +1-703-463-1841, mlauer@qorvis.com, for Cedel International
