CARACAS.- The Prosecutor’s Office Nicolás Maduro regime reported this Wednesday that 29 defendants were sentenced to between 21 and 30 years in prison, the maximum penalty, for a failed armed raid against the Nicolás Maduro regime in 2020, known as “Operation Gideon”.
The paramilitary incursion, which according to the regime was dismantled in May of that year, was led by retired Venezuelan soldiers and foreign mercenaries, supposedly paid by the opposition, according to the regime, although the former have denied these allegations.
“Of the 29 accused, 20 were sentenced to 30 years in prison and nine to 21 years,” published the regime attorney general Tarek William Saab on the social network X, after a hearing in an anti-terrorism court.
“This begins to close a black episode,” the prosecutor continued. “A group of Venezuelans, in coordination with foreign actors and powers, perpetrated this mercenary maritime incursion operation that sought the assassination of highest-level officials,” including Maduro.
La ONG Coalition for Human Rights and Democracy He also published in X the names of those convicted of charges such as terrorism, treason and trafficking in weapons of war, among others.
Josnars Adolfo Baduel, son of the General Raúl Baduelan old ally of Hugo Chávez who distanced himself from Chavismo and ended up in prison, where he died in 2021.
The soldier’s daughter, Andreína Baduel, described the sentence against her brother as “unjust” and denounced that he has been a victim of “torture.” “The judiciary is hijacked, but we must comply with the formalities to be able to go to international bodies,” she said, confirming that the sentence will be appealed.
According to the regime’s version, “Operation Gideon” had the objective of “invading” Venezuela by sea from Colombia to overthrow Maduro. Eight “mercenaries” died in clashes with the military.
“There are others involved who remain evaded from justice,” said Saab, who in the past accused the former opposition leader Juan Guaidó, whom Washington then considered as interim president after ignoring Maduro’s re-election in 2018, of having financed the operation with State funds under their control.
Two Americans sentenced to 20 years for this case, Luke Denman and Airan Berry, were released from prison and handed over to their country in the prisoner exchange that led to the release of Colombian Alex Saab, a contractor for the regime accused of being a “front man” for Maduro.
Source: With information from AFP
