By Zoila Palma: Former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, have been charged by U.S. prosecutors with conspiring to torture political opponents and American citizens, adding new allegations to the drug trafficking case they already face.
A superseding indictment filed in Manhattan federal court details alleged torture involving nine people, including three U.S. citizens, Reuters report.
Maduro, 63, and Flores, 69, were captured in Caracas on January 3 during a U.S. military operation and taken to New York to face drug-related charges. Prosecutors allege that thousands of Venezuelans were threatened, arrested, tortured or killed by state forces between 1999 and 2025, with several of the alleged incidents occurring during periods of political unrest.
According to the indictment, Maduro allegedly ordered the 2013 arrest of a Venezuelan military officer suspected of plotting a coup, who prosecutors say was subsequently subjected to electric shocks and other forms of abuse. Prosecutors also allege that a U.S. citizen detained in Venezuela in 2022 was beaten and subjected to electric shocks after being accused of plotting to assassinate Maduro.
Both Maduro and Flores deny the new allegations. Maduro’s attorney said the former president looks forward to his day in court, while Flores’ lawyers also rejected the charges.
The post International News: Maduro and wife face new US charges over alleged torture appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
By Zoila Palma: Former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, have been charged by U.S. prosecutors with conspiring to torture political opponents and American citizens, adding new allegations to the drug trafficking case they already face. A superseding indictment filed in Manhattan federal court details alleged torture involving nine people, including three
The post International News: Maduro and wife face new US charges over alleged torture appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.