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ePaper created 2015-11-10, 17:27:36 | version 1.33.00
REDACTED Page 141 of 190 detention.604 On March 22, Matheus was granted conditional liberty.605 “If it wasn’t for the video, he would have been sentenced to years in prison”, concluded Chirinos’ lawyer.606 v) Daniel Ceballos On 19 March 2014, other Mayors Daniel Ceballos and Enzo Scarano were arrested. Ceballos was Mayor of San Cristóbal (Táchira State) and a member of the opposition Voluntad Popular party. He was arrested by members of the SEBIN and transferred to the Ramo Verde prison. He has been imprisoned ever since.607 Daniel Ceballos was initially the subject of two legal proceedings. On 12 March 2014, the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Tribunal of Justice, presided by Gladys Gutiérrez (besides being the President of the Supreme Tribunal of Justice, she is also the President of the Constitutional Chamber), issued a ruling ordering a number of mayors belonging to the opposition to guarantee security and other rights, such as the right to freedom of movement, in their municipalities during the protests that began in February 2014. This ruling was extended to include Daniel Ceballos only on 17 March 2014. Yet, on 25 March 2014, the same Constitutional Chamber sentenced him to 12 months’ imprisonment and removal from the post of Mayor for contempt of court for failing to comply with the previous.608 By doing this, the Chamber violated Ceballos’ right to a due process in several ways. The Chamber does not have competence on criminal matters. He was not accused by a General Prosecutor. Ceballos was neither granted reasonable time to prepare for his defense and was not allowed to exercise his right to appeal the sentence.609 Justice 604 HRW (2014). Punished for Protesting: Rights Violations in Venezuela’s Streets, Detention Centers, and Justice System. p.94 605 HRW (2014). Punished for Protesting: Rights Violations in Venezuela’s Streets, Detention Centers, and Justice System. p.94 606 PARDO, D. (2014) Los excesos de la justicia venezolana en las protestas 607 EL UNIVERSAL. (2014) Detenido en Caracas alcalde de San Cristóbal Daniel Ceballos. El Universal. [Online] 20 March. Available from: http://www.eluniversal.com/nacional-y- politica/140320/detenido-en-caracas-alcalde-de-san-cristobal-daniel-ceballos [Accessed 25 October, 2015]; SCHARFENBERG, E. (2014) La designación de magistrados adapta la Justicia a la medida del chavismo 608 AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL. (2015) Venezuela: the Faces of Impunity. p.40; ACCION LIBERTAD. (2015) Derechos Humanos-Venezuela: Efectos de la criminalización de la protesta y la disidencia 609 ACCION LIBERTAD. (2015) Derechos Humanos-Venezuela: Efectos de la criminalización de la protesta y la disidencia; EL NACIONAL. (2014) Asociación de Alcaldes por Venezuela condenó sentencia a Daniel Ceballos. El Nacional. [Online] 25 March. Available from: http://www.el- nacional.com/politica/Asociacion-Alcaldes-Venezuela-Daniel-Ceballos_0_379162359.html [Accessed 25 October, 2015]