CARACAS – Venezuela’s attorney-general announced Saturday that five police officials had been arrested for their responsibility in the prison fire and riot which killed 68 people Wednesday.
Tarek William Saab tweeted that the five officials in the northern state of Carabobo had been “found to be responsible for the tragic events which led to the death of 68 citizens, in the dungeons of … the regional police station.”
1) #AHORA dictadas ordenes de aprehensión por el @MinpublicoVE contra 5 funcionarios d PoliCarabobo; indiciados de ser responsables de los trágicos hechos q ocasionaron la muerte de 68 ciudadan@s en los calabozos de la Comandancia de dicha policía regional: YA DETENIDOS #JUSTICIA
— Tarek William Saab (@TarekWiliamSaab) March 31, 2018
He added that the arrests included the deputy director of the Carabobo police, Jose Luis Rodriguez.
2) Entre dichos funcionarios de la Policia de Carabobo detenidos, destaca el de Jose Luis Rodriguez: Sub Director de dicha institución policial; el @MinpublicoVE GARANTIZA el esclarecimiento de estos trágicos hechos y la sanción a todos los responsables sin distingos #DDHH
— Tarek William Saab (@TarekWiliamSaab) March 31, 2018
Saab said the attorney-general’s office “would guarantee the clarification of these tragic facts and punish those responsible without distinction.”
On Wednesday, 66 inmates and two female visitors died when a fire broke out at the headquarters of the Carabobo police.
That same day, Saab dispatched four investigators to find out the reason behind the tragedy.
On Friday, the Venezuelan government demanded that “the implacable and firm application of the law” befall those responsible.
