TSJ admits injunction against lifting of arrest warrants against 7 PDVSA rebels

<a href=www.vheadline.com>Vheadline Posted: Tuesday, April 22, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

The Supreme Tribunal of Justice (TSJ) Constitutional Chamber has admitted an injunction against a Metropolitan Caracas Appeal Court decision to lift an arrest warrant for 7 former Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) executives and managers. 

On February 26, the 50th control Court issued arrest warrants and a prohibition to leave Venezuela against Juan Fernandez, Gonzalo Feijoo Martinez, Juan Luis Santana, Horacio Medina, Juan Lino Carrillo and Mireya Ripanti Amaya. 

The 2nd Appeal Court lifted the measure on March 17 . 

State prosecutors claim that the sentence has violated the right to equality, defense of due process and the legal tutelage of the Attorney General's Office.  

The former executives' lawyer, Carlos Bastidas says the fact that the TSJ has admitted the injunction does not mean that a trial is pending ... "it will be an assessment prior to the constitutional audience and a decision after the debate." 

Bastidas says the TSJ should be just as diligent in the case of the Llaguno Bridge shooters. Speaking from Miami, where he has been staying Juan Fernandez says his lawyers are studying the implications of the measure and he will issue no public statement on the matter.