Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06CARACAS1892
2006-06-23 15:08:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Caracas
Cable title:
LONG KNIVES COME OUT FOR IMPEACHED TSJ JUSTICE
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CARACAS 001892
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
HQSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
DEPT PASS TO AID/OTI RPORTER
COPENHAGEN FOR DLAWTON
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/12/2016
TAGS: PGOV KDEM VE
SUBJECT: LONG KNIVES COME OUT FOR IMPEACHED TSJ JUSTICE
REF: A. CARACAS 01661
B. CARACAS 03387
C. CARACAS 01720
Classified By: ACTING POLITICAL COUNSELOR MARK WELLS FOR REASON 1.4 (D)
--------
Summary
--------
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CARACAS 001892
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
HQSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
DEPT PASS TO AID/OTI RPORTER
COPENHAGEN FOR DLAWTON
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/12/2016
TAGS: PGOV KDEM VE
SUBJECT: LONG KNIVES COME OUT FOR IMPEACHED TSJ JUSTICE
REF: A. CARACAS 01661
B. CARACAS 03387
C. CARACAS 01720
Classified By: ACTING POLITICAL COUNSELOR MARK WELLS FOR REASON 1.4 (D)
--------------
Summary
--------------
1. (C) On June 8, the National Assembly unanimously voted to
remove Supreme Court Justice Luis Velazquez Alvaray.
Velazquez Alvaray did not attend the legislative hearing, as
was his right, citing fears of persecution and arrest. Post
confirmed through DHS that he fled to Miami June 7 via Aruba,
only to return to Aruba June 14. Post has since revoked his
visa under 214 (b). Fallout from the Velazquez Alvaray
scandal has led to the death of an assistant (ruled suicide),
the indictment of a lawyer with close ties to President
Chavez and Vice President Rangel, and accusations of links to
prosecutor Danilo Anderson's murder. End Summary.
--------------
You're Out!
--------------
2. (C) On June 8, amidst high security, the National
Assembly (AN) unanimously voted to remove Supreme Court
Justice Luis Velazquez Alvaray for alleged irregularities in
the purchase of land for a judicial complex in the Petare
area of Caracas (ref a). Velazquez Alvaray was invited to
present his defense at the AN session, but did not attend,
citing a lack of prior notification and fears that he would
be arrested immediately after speaking in the Assembly. In a
letter to the AN explaining his absence, Velazquez Alvaray
reiterated his innocence and questioned the AN's objectivity,
saying he refused to let the legislature serve "his head on a
silver platter as an electoral trophy." At least 25
deputies--including Velazquez Alvaray ally and AN
anti-corruption czar Pedro Carreno--did not attend the
session (protesting BRV treatment of Velazquez Alvaray) and
were replaced by alternates. Now that his judicial immunity
has been revoked, the Attorney General's office was expected
to indict Velazquez Alvaray on corruption charges, though
after several days prosecutors had still taken no action.
--------------
Getting Luis
--------------
3. (C) Post has confirmed that Velazquez Alvaray fled the
country on June 7. He was registered as entering Miami on a
flight originating in Aruba. After one week, he returned to
Aruba June 14. (Note: In the interim, Post prudentially
revoked Velazquez Alvaray and his wife's visas as flight
risks. Based on earlier comments by Velazquez Alvaray to
PolCouns, we were also concerned that he may have planned to
seek asylum in the United States.) There were numerous
rumors that Pedro Carreno arranged his departure from
Venezuela via charter plane, as authorities had reportedly
put a lookout on him at major airports. Another contact told
poloff that Velazquez Alvaray's wife, Benji Coromoto Gomez
CARACAS 00001892 002 OF 002
Cardenas, is in Trinidad with their three children.
--------------
Fallout Ripples Through Judiciary
--------------
4. (U) Meanwhile, the Attorney General's office continues
investigating Velazquez Alvaray's business dealings in
Barinas and the purchase of land for other judicial complexes
in Merida, Tachira, and Apure states that he oversaw. One
suspect in the Barinas investigation, former Supreme Court
Department of Administration (DEM) Secretary and Velazquez
Alvaray aide Antonio Barazarte, allegedly killed himself June
8 shortly before the AN's decision. Press reports indicate
Barazarte was about to be indicted for corruption.
5. (U) The Velazquez Alvaray incident has also triggered
infighting among judges and prosecutors linked to the "Band
of Midgets," which he alleged was an extortion ring that
fixed sensitive cases for the BRV. In retaliation for his
suspension, Velazquez Alvaray accused Caracas Circuit Court
Judge Belkis Cedeno of belonging to this corrupt group.
Cedeno, in turn, accused and ultimately secured the
indictment of private lawyer Esther Bigott for attempting to
bribe a judge involved in the Danilo Anderson murder
investigation. Bigott is thought to be President Chavez'
personal lawyer and has handled cases for Vice President
Rangel.
--------------
Comment
--------------
6. (C) Despite the continuing fallout, Velazquez Alvaray's
sudden departure has sucked much of the public interest out
of the case. We cannot rule out, of course, that the
tit-for-tatting among rival Chavista gangs could bring down
other prominent figures. Whether the internecine fighting
wrecks the strength of Chavismo remains to be seen. The
scandal has not spilled over to Chavez.
BROWNFIELD
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
HQSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
DEPT PASS TO AID/OTI RPORTER
COPENHAGEN FOR DLAWTON
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/12/2016
TAGS: PGOV KDEM VE
SUBJECT: LONG KNIVES COME OUT FOR IMPEACHED TSJ JUSTICE
REF: A. CARACAS 01661
B. CARACAS 03387
C. CARACAS 01720
Classified By: ACTING POLITICAL COUNSELOR MARK WELLS FOR REASON 1.4 (D)
--------------
Summary
--------------
1. (C) On June 8, the National Assembly unanimously voted to
remove Supreme Court Justice Luis Velazquez Alvaray.
Velazquez Alvaray did not attend the legislative hearing, as
was his right, citing fears of persecution and arrest. Post
confirmed through DHS that he fled to Miami June 7 via Aruba,
only to return to Aruba June 14. Post has since revoked his
visa under 214 (b). Fallout from the Velazquez Alvaray
scandal has led to the death of an assistant (ruled suicide),
the indictment of a lawyer with close ties to President
Chavez and Vice President Rangel, and accusations of links to
prosecutor Danilo Anderson's murder. End Summary.
--------------
You're Out!
--------------
2. (C) On June 8, amidst high security, the National
Assembly (AN) unanimously voted to remove Supreme Court
Justice Luis Velazquez Alvaray for alleged irregularities in
the purchase of land for a judicial complex in the Petare
area of Caracas (ref a). Velazquez Alvaray was invited to
present his defense at the AN session, but did not attend,
citing a lack of prior notification and fears that he would
be arrested immediately after speaking in the Assembly. In a
letter to the AN explaining his absence, Velazquez Alvaray
reiterated his innocence and questioned the AN's objectivity,
saying he refused to let the legislature serve "his head on a
silver platter as an electoral trophy." At least 25
deputies--including Velazquez Alvaray ally and AN
anti-corruption czar Pedro Carreno--did not attend the
session (protesting BRV treatment of Velazquez Alvaray) and
were replaced by alternates. Now that his judicial immunity
has been revoked, the Attorney General's office was expected
to indict Velazquez Alvaray on corruption charges, though
after several days prosecutors had still taken no action.
--------------
Getting Luis
--------------
3. (C) Post has confirmed that Velazquez Alvaray fled the
country on June 7. He was registered as entering Miami on a
flight originating in Aruba. After one week, he returned to
Aruba June 14. (Note: In the interim, Post prudentially
revoked Velazquez Alvaray and his wife's visas as flight
risks. Based on earlier comments by Velazquez Alvaray to
PolCouns, we were also concerned that he may have planned to
seek asylum in the United States.) There were numerous
rumors that Pedro Carreno arranged his departure from
Venezuela via charter plane, as authorities had reportedly
put a lookout on him at major airports. Another contact told
poloff that Velazquez Alvaray's wife, Benji Coromoto Gomez
CARACAS 00001892 002 OF 002
Cardenas, is in Trinidad with their three children.
--------------
Fallout Ripples Through Judiciary
--------------
4. (U) Meanwhile, the Attorney General's office continues
investigating Velazquez Alvaray's business dealings in
Barinas and the purchase of land for other judicial complexes
in Merida, Tachira, and Apure states that he oversaw. One
suspect in the Barinas investigation, former Supreme Court
Department of Administration (DEM) Secretary and Velazquez
Alvaray aide Antonio Barazarte, allegedly killed himself June
8 shortly before the AN's decision. Press reports indicate
Barazarte was about to be indicted for corruption.
5. (U) The Velazquez Alvaray incident has also triggered
infighting among judges and prosecutors linked to the "Band
of Midgets," which he alleged was an extortion ring that
fixed sensitive cases for the BRV. In retaliation for his
suspension, Velazquez Alvaray accused Caracas Circuit Court
Judge Belkis Cedeno of belonging to this corrupt group.
Cedeno, in turn, accused and ultimately secured the
indictment of private lawyer Esther Bigott for attempting to
bribe a judge involved in the Danilo Anderson murder
investigation. Bigott is thought to be President Chavez'
personal lawyer and has handled cases for Vice President
Rangel.
--------------
Comment
--------------
6. (C) Despite the continuing fallout, Velazquez Alvaray's
sudden departure has sucked much of the public interest out
of the case. We cannot rule out, of course, that the
tit-for-tatting among rival Chavista gangs could bring down
other prominent figures. Whether the internecine fighting
wrecks the strength of Chavismo remains to be seen. The
scandal has not spilled over to Chavez.
BROWNFIELD