(IPYS/IFEX) – On 20 February 2003, Igor Aranzazu, a technician for the Venevision television station, was released from prison. He had been detained on Margarita Island, in the northwestern state of Nueva Esparta, since 23 January for allegedly causing an interruption during a national broadcast by President Hugo Chávez. Aranzazu was set free after a […]
(IPYS/IFEX) – On 20 February 2003, Igor Aranzazu, a technician for the Venevision television station, was released from prison. He had been detained on Margarita Island, in the northwestern state of Nueva Esparta, since 23 January for allegedly causing an interruption during a national broadcast by President Hugo Chávez.
Aranzazu was set free after a submission by Judge Juan González Vásquez to the Nueva Esparta Court of Appeal demonstrated that the detention was unwarranted and violated the Penal Code (Codigo Orgánico Procesal Penal), which establishes the presumption of innocence.
On the day of Aranzazu’s release, Nueva Esparta Second District Attorney Yamileth Araujo filed a formal accusation against Aranzazu for allegedly violating Article 188 of the Telecommunications Law (Ley Orgánica de Telecomunicaciones). The law states that “anyone who through gross negligence produces interference that partially interrupts or impedes service will be sentenced to 4 to 12 months in prison.”
Aranzazu, who is part of Venevision’s staff on Margarita Island, was arrested because of a technical error he made while reviewing the sound on a broadcast. His actions resulted in 90 seconds of interference in the transmission of a national broadcast by President Chávez. He was denied bail by Judge Carolina Zambrano.
