VENEZUELA MAYOR RELEASE AGAIN DENIED

C O N F I D E N T I A L CARACAS 002539 SIPDIS NSC FOR CBARTON HQ USSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD USAID DCHA/OTI FOR RPORTER LIMA ALSO FOR WHA A/S NORIEGA E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/25/2014 TAGS: PHUM PGOV KJUS VE SUBJECT: VENEZUELA MAYOR RELEASE AGAIN DENIED Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR ABELARDO A. ARIAS FOR REASONS 1.5 (d ) ¶1. (U) Caracas Control Judge Leon Villanueva rejected a defense motion to release jailed Baruta Mayor Henrique Capriles on August 4. Villanueva was assigned the case when an Appeals Court ruled the case be reassigned and defense motions considered again. Villanueva scheduled a hearing for August 17 to decide if the prosecution has sufficient evidence to assign the case to a trial judge. At that time Villanueva will decide if Capriles should remain in jail throughout the trial. ¶2. (C) Jose Octavio Carrillo, a member of the Capriles defense team, told PolOff August 5, that the judge's decision was disappointing, and indicated that Villanueva was unlikely to rule in favor of Capriles on August 17, unless Chavez were revoked on August 15. Shapiro NNNN 2004CARACA02539 - CONFIDENTIAL