A/HRC/45/CRP.11
diverse” and told her they would put her in a cell with lesbians. Ms. González took this
comment as a joke but also as a tactic to challenge her psychologically.1402 Ms. González was
held in a small cell with four other women, before all the women were transferred to a larger
cell as the number of women detained in El Helicoide increased.
719. In 16 October 2014, on his television show Diosdado Cabello alleged that Ms.
González was connected to the murder of Mr. Serra and had links to opposition leader Lorent
Saleh.1403
Judicial Process
720. According to domestic law, prosecutors have 45 days to present a formal accusation
once an accused person goes into pre-trial detention. Failure to comply with the time limit
requires the judge to order the detainee’s release with precautionary measures, barring
demonstrated reason to believe that once released, they would not comply. 1404 On 20
November 2014, after 44 days of pre-trial detention, the Thirteenth Maracaibo Court of
Control ordered Ms. González’s release with precautionary measures. 1405 According to Ms.
González, a SEBIN commissioner told her that she would not be released, as SEBIN would
not comply with her release notice.1406
721. Five days later, the judge who ordered Ms. González’ release was replaced. A new
judge, Judge Ernesto Rojas Hidalgo, revoked the release order and reinstituted preventive
custody, at the request of the prosecutor who alleged Ms. González posed a flight risk and
danger to public order.1407 The judge issued an arrest warrant1408 and an order to SEBIN
revoking the release order.1409
722. Ms. González’ lawyer challenged the two outrage charges, pointing out that the public
official concerned – Robert Serra – was deceased when Ms González tweeted about him and
the other potential victims, Mr. Serra’s family, had not made a complaint. The prosecutor
dropped the outrage charges before the preliminary hearing.1410
723. The preliminary hearing was deferred at least twice. On 24 February 2015, SEBIN
transferred Ms. González to Maracaibo, where she pleaded guilty to public incitement.
According to Ms. González, she pleaded guilty to shorten the process. The judge sentenced
her to three years’ imprisonment and she was returned to El Helicoide.
724. Over the following months, Ms. González suffered health problems related to
previously diagnosed endometriosis. Ms. González told the Mission that during her transfer
to the military hospital for exams, six female SEBIN officers beat her.1411 On 26 August 2015,
Brigade General José Leonardo Noroño Torres, Director General of Dr. Carlos Arvelo
Military Hospital, issued a report to the Judge Milangela Salom Perozo of the Fourth
Executing Court recommending that Ms. González be transferred to the hospital on 23
September 2015 for surgery and recovery.1412
725. On 22 September 2015, the Human Rights Ombudsman, Tarek William Saab,
published a string of tweets about Ms. González’s reproductive health, revealing that she
suffered from endometriosis and saying that she required a hysterectomy. He then engaged
1402
1403
1404
1405
1406
1407
1408
1409
1410
1411
1412
156
Ibid.
YouTube Video, Noticias Venezuela, Cabello confirma detención de "la negra Hipólita", 14 October
2014, available at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZv7fnQqMhg&lc=Ugi_HLh_rC5qx3gCoAEC.
This timeframe is established in Criminal Procedure Code, art. 236.
Order 1488-2014, referred to in Decision No. 1512-14, 25 November 2014, Criminal Case File No.
13C-23.545-14, on file with the Mission.
Mission Interview C2EE12 in June 2020.
Decision No. 1512-14, 25 November 2014, Criminal Case File No. 13C-23.545-14, on file with the
Mission.
Arrest warrant, 25 November 2014, Criminal Case File No. 13C-23.545-14, on file with the Mission.
Record No. 7693-14, 25 November 2014, Criminal Case File No. 13C-23.545-14, on file with the
Mission.
Mission Interview with Inés González on 26 June 2020.
Ibid.
Record No. 2796-15, 26 August 2015, Ministry of Defence, on file with the Mission.
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