Baduel, rival of Hugo Chavez, arrested in Venezuela

Former Venezuelan Defense Minister Raul Isaias Baduel, a prominent political adversary of President Hugo Chavez, was arrested at gunpoint Thursday, reportedly by agents of military intelligence.

The country's military prosecutor, Ernesto Cedeno, confirmed in statements to reporters that the general's arrest was connected to charges of embezzlement during his 2006-2007 tenure as defense minister.

However, Baduel's family, his defense team and leaders of the opposition have described the arrest as yet another in a string of recent persecutions of dissidents by the Chavez government.

Interviewed on Union Radio, Baduel's attorney, Omar Mora Tosta, said the arrest made no sense, since the general had complied with the requirement, imposed last September, that he sign in with the authorities every two weeks.

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/world/story/65415.html

It will be interesting to see what charges will be lodged against this clown.

By the way, at no cost to the reader, I'll include free photos of the "journalist," Phil Gunson!

http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk.nyud.net:8090/site_imagery/phil_gunson_140x140.jpg http://www.pbs.org.nyud.net:8090/wgbh/pages/frontline/hugochavez/art/gunsonp.jpg

Phil Gunson

No, he is NOT Ben Turpin, from the silent movies, so stop saying that.

http://silentgents.com.nyud.net:8090/BlueBook/Turpin.jpg

where I could keep an eye on them. :)

1. He was issued at least 12 citations to appear before a military court. He refused each time.

2. He is considered a flight risk.

3. He is accused of obstruction in the investigation against him.

4. The damage he has done to the Venezuelan Air Force is considered so great that his arrest may be warrented.

5. He is accused of swindling the Air Force of from US$5 million to US$21 million. Additional charges will be revealed later.

6. The court has 30 days to hear charges against Baduel.

7. The court today (Friday) was to decide if he will be imprisoned or be allowed to reamain free.

Link (Spanish) is dense reading, but all the details are there.

http://www.abn.info.ve/noticia.php?articulo=176230&lee=1