New York, Oct 17:
Former Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro on Thursday denied fresh allegations that he and his wife, Cilia Flores, were involved in a state-sponsored campaign of torture and repression, describing the accusations against them as false during a court appearance in the United States.
Maduro and Flores appeared before a US court to face a revised indictment that expands the allegations beyond the earlier drug-trafficking charges. The new indictment accuses the couple of helping lead a system of repression in which scores of people, including three Americans, were allegedly tortured.
Both defendants appeared in court with shackles around their ankles and followed the proceedings through headphones carrying translations of the courtroom discussions.
Maduro twice declined to enter a plea when asked by the judge, instead denouncing the allegations through a Spanish-language interpreter as false accusations and false testimony. Judge Alvin K Hellerstein subsequently entered a plea of not guilty on his behalf.
Flores, a former attorney general, was less confrontational during the hearing. After confirming that she had read a Spanish-language version of the revised indictment, she told the court that she was completely innocent and not guilty.
According to the indictment, Maduro allegedly oversaw a system in which detainees were beaten, asphyxiated and subjected to electric shocks. Prosecutors further allege that he personally recommended methods of torture, received updates on the treatment of individual victims and threatened to kill a prisoner’s child as a form of psychological intimidation.
The indictment also accuses Flores of helping develop the alleged system of repression and ordering the torture of specific individuals. She has denied wrongdoing.
Maduro served as Venezuela’s president from 2013 until his capture in January. He and Flores were seized from their home in Caracas during a nighttime US military operation, according to the account presented in the case.
The revised charges broaden the scope of the prosecution by covering alleged acts of torture dating back to Maduro’s rise to power following the death of his predecessor and political mentor, Hugo Chávez, in 2013.
The former president has faced international scrutiny for years over allegations of human rights abuses and crimes against humanity linked to the suppression of political opponents. The International Criminal Court has also investigated allegations concerning the crackdown in Venezuela. Maduro has consistently denied the accusations.
Earlier this year, Maduro and Flores pleaded not guilty to the US drug-trafficking charges. Prosecutors have accused them of conspiring to flood the United States with cocaine. Their lawyers have challenged the case, arguing that it should be dismissed on immunity grounds because Maduro was the head of a foreign state and Flores was the first lady during the relevant period.
The latest hearing also addressed the timetable for the proceedings. The trial, previously scheduled for an earlier date, has been moved to June 14, 2027, two weeks later than originally planned. The defendants are due to return to court for another pretrial hearing on December 17.
Maduro’s lawyer, Barry Pollack, said after the revised charges were announced last week that his client denied the allegations and looked forward to his day in court. Pollack agreed to the proposed schedule change but described the timetable as demanding given the additional allegations.
The prosecution faces a complex legal challenge. Torture is prohibited under international law, and certain cases can be prosecuted outside the country where the alleged abuses occurred, regardless of the nationality of the victims. However, the prosecution of foreign officials in US courts remains relatively rare.
The proceedings are expected to draw international attention because of the seriousness of the allegations, the circumstances surrounding Maduro’s capture and the dispute over whether a former foreign leader can claim immunity from prosecution in the United States.
For now, the allegations remain matters to be tested in court. Maduro and Flores have denied guilt, and the trial is scheduled to begin in June next year.