Rebel business leader Carlos Fernandez rushed to private clinic

www.vheadline.com Posted: Tuesday, March 18, 2003 By: David Coleman

Venezuelan Federation of Chambers of Commerce & Industry (Fedecamaras) president Carlos Fernandez has been rushed to hospital after suffering "cardiac complications" at his luxury villa in Valencia (Carabobo State) where he has been contained under house arrest since his dramatic arrest at the end of February.

A judge has formally signed papers releasing Fernandez for three days to the care of a private cardiology unit for tests and treatment after complaints about his deteriorating state of health. Family members say Fernandez has suffered from heart failure and hyperglycemia meriting intensive care and cardiac monitoring among other treatments.

Government security services are, however, alerted to the possibility that the hospitalization is a ruse to prepare Fernandez' escape from justice ... his predecessor as Fedecamaras president, Dictator-for-a-Day Pedro Carmona Estanga had duped his police minders to escape from house arrest to claim asylum at the Colombian embassy in Caracas ... he is now in self-enforced exile in Bogota.