In a New York court proceeding, attorneys for former Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores requested the dismissal of the narco-terrorism case against their clients. The reason cited was that US sanctions have denied them the ability to use Venezuelan government funds to cover defence costs.
Prosecutors argued that Maduro had "plundered" Venezuela's wealth and should not be permitted to access these funds for legal fees. However, 92-year-old Judge Alvin Hellerstein noted that "the right to defence is paramount" and stated he would not dismiss the case over this dispute. He indicated he would issue a ruling at a later time, including at the next court date.
Maduro and Flores were seized by US forces in a dramatic night-time raid on their compound in Caracas on January 3 and brought to New York to face allegations of weapons and drug offences, which they deny. During the hearing, they wore green khaki prison jumpsuits, sitting quietly between their lawyers and listening to translated arguments through headphones.
Due to US sanctions against Maduro and the Venezuelan government, they needed a licence to allow government funds to pay their legal fees. The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) initially granted this licence but later revoked it. Prosecutors contended that access to Venezuelan government funds should be denied on national security grounds, claiming the couple has personal funds available for attorneys—a claim the Maduros dispute.
Judge Hellerstein appeared sympathetic to the argument by Maduro's lawyer Barry Pollock that the unusual case against the former leader, taking place in another country, would overwhelm a public defender and impair the quality of counsel. The judge also pointed out that the foreign policy situation has changed since Maduro's capture, with the US now "doing business with Venezuela," and noted the Venezuelan government is willing to pay.
During a Cabinet meeting in Washington, former US President Donald Trump claimed the regime is weighing additional cases against Maduro and purportedly stated he would be given "a fair trial." Residents of Caracas interviewed by the BBC said they are closely watching court developments, expressing a range of views from sympathy to calls for severe punishment, highlighting the divided sentiments in Venezuela.
Source: www.bbc.com