Ousted Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his spouse Cilia Flores, who had been ‘kidnapped’ by the American forces on Saturday from the nation’s capital Caracas, have pleaded not responsible to the costs of narcotics imposed by the US. Dealing with a New York courtroom, Maduro mentioned that he’s an harmless man and was kidnapped by America.
The beautiful seize of Maudro on the path of the US President Donald Trump has rattled world leaders. “I’m harmless. I’m not responsible. I’m an honest man. I’m nonetheless president of my nation,” Maduro, 63, mentioned earlier than US District Choose Alvin Hellerstein in Manhattan federal courtroom. The following listening to will happen on March 17.
Dozens of protesters, each supporting and opposing Maduro, assembled exterior the courthouse forward of the half-hour listening to.
Hours later in Caracas, Maduro’s vp, Delcy Rodríguez, was sworn in as Venezuela’s interim president, voicing help for Maduro however giving no signal she would problem the U.S. motion.
There was no likelihood of bail, which might have been a traditional course for a high-profile case like this, as they had been remanded to custody.
On the MDC, Maduro and Flores had been held individually and in solitary confinement.
Due to the excessive safety dangers, officers prevented the bridges and tunnels connecting Manhattan, the place the courtroom is situated, and Brooklyn throughout the East River, the place the MDC is situated, and used a helicopter to fly them to a helipad near the courtroom.
The principle expenses in opposition to Venezuela’s first couple embody narco-terrorism conspiracy for allegedly trafficking tonnes of cocaine to the US utilizing Venezuelan navy and intelligence to guard cocaine shipments and use clandestine airstrips.
One other critical cost is possession of machine weapons and harmful units, and conspiracy to own them, which might strengthen the narco-terrorism allegations.
The severest punishment for among the expenses that Maduro faces is the demise penalty.
Maduro can be charged with cash laundering and corruption for transferring the cash obtained via the drug operations.
Switzerland mentioned it was freezing his property in that nation.
In a lightning operation, Maduro and his spouse had been seized by US forces from a closely fortified navy base in Venezuela on Saturday morning and delivered to New York Metropolis. (With company inputs)