A/HRC/45/CRP.11
534. The guards took Mr. Hinds to a small, damp cell known as “El Bañito”.1109 According
to former detainees, SEBIN officers used “El Bañito” as a place to torture detainees. 1110 Mr.
Hinds told the Mission that one of his two cellmates had visible bruises. Later that day Mr.
Hinds witnessed guards known as “El Wayuu” and “La Malandra” beat his cellmate. The
cellmate told Mr. Hinds that they did this frequently. He claimed to not to have appeared
before a judge.1111
535. The following day, 1 February 2018, officers transferred Mr. Hinds to an even smaller
cell, known as El Tigrito, measuring slightly under two square metres. There he was held in
complete darkness with another prisoner and no furniture. Mr. Hinds’ cellmate was restrained
by an apparatus called The Octopus (“El Pulpo”), which immobilized him with a belt and
chains. At night, SEBIN took the other detainee from the cell and returned him in the
morning, visibly injured and sticky with sweat and blood. His cellmate told him that officers
would hang him by his arms from a pipe and beat him.1112
536. Neither prisoner had access to clean drinking water so they drank from the toilet bowl.
Mr. Hinds fell ill with digestive problems, but did not receive official medical attention.
Another prisoner with medical experience attended to him.1113
The Arrest of Geraldine Chacón
537. As in Mr. Hinds’ case, there are inconsistencies between the date of detention
contained in SEBIN’s criminal investigation report and the recollections of witnesses
contacted by the Mission. According to the SEBIN record, Geraldine Chacón was arrested
during the night of 2 February 2018,1114 though witnesses and other official SEBIN
documents place the detention at around 1.30 a.m. on 1 February 2018, which was eight hours
after Mr. Hinds’ detention.1115
538. According to Ms. Chacón and her mother, around 1.30 or 2 a.m., approximately five
SEBIN officers dressed in black with their faces covered and carrying long weapons knocked
on the door to their house. Ms. Chacón was asleep and her mother initially answered the door.
The officers demanded to know Ms. Chacón’s whereabouts. They did not present a search or
arrest warrant, but proceeded to search and photograph the house. 1116
539. The SEBIN officers asked Ms. Chacón to accompany them to El Helicoide for an
interview. They told her mother that they would return Ms. Chacón within two to three
hours.1117 Upon arriving at El Helicoide, the officers demanded Ms. Chacón’s cellular
telephone for safekeeping.1118 The SEBIN record differs somewhat from this version. Most
significantly, it claims that officers read Ms. Chacón her rights at the house, suggesting they
had arrested her there.1119
540. The officers took Ms. Chacón’s photograph and fingerprints, telling her that it was
standard procedure for anyone coming for questioning. She was not permitted to leave after
this point. She was videoed speaking about Brave Heart, FEC, opposition leaders and
international funding,1120 as Mr. Hinds had been.1121 Once they had sent the clips on
1109
1110
1111
1112
1113
1114
1115
1116
1117
1118
1119
1120
1121
Mission Interview with Gregory Hinds, 19 May 2020; Mission Interview C2EE08 in May 2020;
Mission Interview C2EE09 in June 2020.
See section on El Helicoide, above. Mission Interview C2EE08 in May 2020; Mission Interview
C2EE05 in May 2020; Mission Interview C2EE09 in June 2020.
Mission Interview with Gregory Hinds on 19 May 2020.
Mission Interview with Gregory Hinds on 19 May 2020.
Mission Interview C2EE05 and C2EE07 in May 2020.
Document C2EE09 on file with the Mission.
Mission Interview C2EE04 in May 2020; Complaint filed 12 March 2018, Criminal File 31oC20.426-18; Document C2EE10.
Mission Interview with Geraldine Chacón on 13 May 2020.
Complaint filed 12 March 2018, Criminal File 31oC-20.426-18; Mission Interview C2EE04 in May
2020.
Mission Interview with Geraldine Chacón on 13 May 2020.
Document C2EE09 on file with the Mission.
Record of Initial Appearance, 6 February 2018, p. 6; Mission Interview C2EE04 in May 2020.
Mission Interview with Geraldine Chacón on 13 May 2020.
125
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