A/HRC/45/CRP.11 410. On the day of the arrest, President Maduro announced that Mr. Ledezma “will be tried for the crimes he committed against national peace, security and the Constitution”. 904 The following day, the Ministry of Popular Power for Communication and Information issued a press release saying that Mr. Ledezma’s arrest was “linked to the case of Lorent Gómez Saleh, Gabriel Valles, Ronny Navarro, Gerardo Carrero and Renzo Prieto, who are currently charged with involvement in conspiracy schemes”.905 The Ministry referred to videos in which Mr. Saleh, Mr. Valles and Mr. Navarro talk about attacking public and private buildings.906 Mr. Ledezma was arrested following a warrant requested by prosecutors Katherine Haringhton907 and Yeison Moreno and issued by Judge Miguel Graterol, of the Sixth Criminal Court of Caracas. 411. Despite being a civilian, Mr. Ledezma was taken to Ramo Verde military prison in Los Teques, Miranda State. He was placed in solitary confinement, in the same section as Leopoldo López and Daniel Ceballos, and was not permitted visitors for two weeks. 908 412. On 7 April 2015, the Sixteenth Prosecutor of Caracas Metropolitan Area, José Luis Orta, formally accused Mr. Ledezma of conspiring to destroy the republican political form of the nation909 and criminal association.910 These offences jointly carry a maximum penalty of 26 years’ imprisonment. The prosecutor also requested that Mr. Ledezma remain in detention before trial. On 24 April 2015, Mr. Ledezma’s health deteriorated due to an inguinal hernia. The prosecutor requested house arrest, which allowed Mr. Ledezma to undergo surgery and recover at home from 25 April 2015. 413. Following a series of deferrals, Mr. Ledezma’s preliminary hearing took place on 15 February 2016, almost a full year since his arrest and detention. Preliminary hearings should take place within a maximum 20 days from the date of formal accusation.911 During the hearing, before the Sixth Court of Control,912 the prosecutor confirmed the charges and requested a penalty of 16 years’ imprisonment. The Court sent the case to trial, with Mr. 904 905 906 907 908 909 910 911 912 YouTube Video, Noticias 24, Maduro confirma la detención de Antonio Ledezma: “Será procesado por la justicia”, 19 February 2015, available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ehbrj2Je92s Ministry of Popular Power for Communication and Information, Ministerio Público imputará a Alcalde Metropolitano de Caracas, 20 February 2015, available at: http://190.9.128.241/article/ministerio-público-imputará-alcalde-metropolitano-de-caracas. Ibid. Katherine Haringhton has been involved as a prosecutor in a number of cases against political opponents. See, for instance, Efecto Cocuyo, Las 8 imputaciones clave de Katherine Harrington contra opositores, 4 July 2017, available at: https://efectococuyo.com/politica/las-8-imputacionesclave-de-katherine-harrington-contra-opositores/. She was appointed Vice Attorney General on 4 July 2017 and was dismissed on 23 October 2018. According to the information received, she is no longer with the Attorney General Office. Ms. Haringhton is reportedly the spouse of Gustavo González López, SEBIN Director. See also El Cooperante, Katherine Harrington, la sancionada por EEUU que fue vicefiscal y entró al MP en la maletera de un carro, 23 October 2018, available at: https://elcooperante.com/katherine-harrington-la-sancionada-por-eeuu-que-fue-vicefiscal-y-entro-almp-en-la-maletera-de-un-carro/; El Nacional, Gustavo González López, el represor perdonado, 2 May 2019, available at: https://www.elnacional.com/venezuela/politica/gustavo-González-lopez-represorperdonado_281196/ Written information submitted by Mr. Ledezma to the Mission on 26 May 2020. Criminal Code, art. 132. Under the Law against Organized Crime and Terrorism Financing, art. 37. See also YouTube Video, NTN24, Tribunal dicta privativa de libertad al alcalde Antonio Ledezma y lo envía a cárcel de Ramo Verde, 21 February 2015, available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kdbkumhvWIw Criminal Procedure Code, art. 309. YouTube Video, VerTV Noticias. Defensa de Ledezma demostrará “montaje probatorio” de volverse a diferir audiencia, available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=284s5mSylmU El Estímulo, Ledezma pasa a juicio y continúa bajo medida cautelar de casa por cárcel, 15 February 2016, available at: https://elestimulo.com/trasladan-a-antonio-ledezma-al-sebin-el-dia-de-su-primeraaudiencia/. See also YouTube Video, TVV, Ledezma pasa a juicio y continuará bajo la medida cautelar de casa por cárcel, 15 February 2016, available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=euCl0H8kT10 103