A/HRC/45/CRP.11 in Mérida State1204 and later with engineer Roberto Picón, accused of planning a cyberattack against the National Electoral Council.1205 After three weeks in El Bañito, Mr. Zerpa spent another ten days in a regular cell, before being released on 24 August 2017. 1206 596. Relatives attempted to visit Mr. Zerpa at El Helicoide on a daily basis. They later told Mr. Zerpa that SEBIN officers denied them access on each occasion because of “superior orders”.1207 Relatives were finally allowed to visit Mr. Zerpa on 19 August 2017, after 26 days in incommunicado detention. The three visits he received lasted around 15 minutes and were video recorded by SEBIN officers.1208 597. Mr. Zerpa suffered from hypertension and ulcer disease prior to his detention and believes that the 31 days in detention at El Helicoide in the conditions described above took a heavy toll upon his health. Mr. Zerpa was diagnosed with prostate cancer in June 2019. The prohibition on leaving the country means he cannot seek treatment abroad. 1209 Findings 598. Based on the facts above, the Mission has reasonable grounds to believe that Angel Zerpa was victim of arbitrary detention. Officers from SEBIN Counter-Intelligence Direction were involved. The Mission considers that the detention conditions suffered by Mr. Zerpa in “El Bañito” at El Helicoide amount to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. CASE 9: Juan Carlos Requesens 599. Juan Requesens is a National Assembly member, elected in December 2015 and sworn in on 5 January 2016. Prior to his election he was a student leader at the Central University of Venezuela (UCV) where he played a prominent role in the 2014 protests. 600. On 4 August 2018 at around 5.45 p.m., President Maduro’s speech to mark the 81st anniversary of the Bolivarian National Guard was interrupted by two overhead explosions.1210 Later that day, the Minister of Information and Communication, Jorge Rodríguez Gómez, announced publicly that the two drones loaded with explosives had attempted to assassinate President Maduro.1211 At a separate press conference, President Maduro said that investigations into the incident were in progress and that the suspects would be arrested. 1212 Arrest 601. On 7 August 2018 at 1.30 p.m., Juan Requesens gave a speech in the National Assembly blaming President Maduro for the crisis the country and describing the Government as corrupt and criminals. He stated, “We will keep doing everything we can to 1204 1205 1206 1207 1208 1209 1210 1211 1212 134 El Carabobeño, Funcionarios del Sebin detuvieron al hijo del alcalde de Campo Elías en Mérida, 30 July 2017, available at: https://www.el-carabobeno.com/funcionarios-del-sebin-detuvieron-al-hijodel-alcalde-campo-elias-merida/ Gentiuno, Roberto Picón y Ángel Zerpa recluidos juntos en un baño del Sebin, 19 August 2017, available at: http://www.gentiuno.com/19/08/2017/roberto-picon-y-angel-zerpa-recluidos-juntos-enun-bano-del-sebin/ Written statement submitted by Angel Zerpa to the Mission, 7 June 2020. YouTube Video, NTN24, “Van 26 días que no sabemos de su paradero ni de su estado de salud”: Carmina Zerpa, 17 August 2017, available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLKeBbKTBYE Written statement by Angel Zerpa to the Mission, 7 June 2020. Written statement submitted by Angel Zerpa to the Mission, 7 June 2020. YouTube Video, VPItv, Venezuela Imagenes del Atentado a Nicolas Maduro available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYjhoy3XrHk YouTube Video, Luigini Bracci Roa, Jorge Rodríguez: Intentaron atentado con DRONES contra Nicolás Maduro, 7 efectivos resultan heridos, 4 August 2018, available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHP7bOu9jHo&t=84s YouTube Video, Luigini Bracci Roa Palabras completa de Nicolás Maduro tras el atentado con drones en su contra el 4 agosto 2018, available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kn1hbllJLX0