Public Prosecutor launches appeal against Fernandez' liberty

www.vheadline.com Posted: Friday, March 21, 2003 By: Robert Rudnicki

Public Prosecutor Luisa Ortega Diaz has submitted an appeal against the 7th Appeals Court's decision to grant Venezuelan Federation of Chambers of Commerce & Industry (Fedecamaras) president Carlos Fernandez complete liberty pending trial, following several weeks under house arrest accused of several offenses, including treason, for his role in the national work stoppage which ended on February 2.

The Ministry is certain that the decision should be declared null and void because only two of the three judges were present as one had to leave citing health reasons.  This the Ministry insists violates article 49 of the current Constitution.

The Ministry has also pointed out a number of other irregularities, claiming that the order for Fernandez' release was received by security police at 10:15 a.m. a full 15 minutes before the ruling was made at 10:30 a.m.