A/HRC/45/CRP.11 Treatment in La Pica Prison 895. On 5 March 2020, Sergeants Bandres and Geomer Martínez Natera were removed from their cells by DGCIM officers and transferred to DEPROSEMIL La Pica prison in the city of Maturin, Monagas state, around 500 km from Caracas. 1616 When Sergeant Bandres’ wife attempted to visit her husband in Ramo Verde, the Director informed her that Sargeant Bandres had been moved, without providing further information on his whereabouts. 896. Sergeant Bandres’ wife discovered where her husband was when he called her five days later, on 10 March to inform of his whereabouts. She since relocated to Monagas state to be able to bring water and food to the prison for him. At the time of writing, she had not had any official communication with him nor had she been able to see him since his transfer to La Pica in March 2020.1617 897. The Mission contacted the Government requesting a status update in this case on 7 August 2020. At the time of writing, it had not received a response. Findings 898. Based on the facts above, the Mission has reasonable grounds to believe that arbitrary arrest and detention, short term enforced disappearance and torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment was committed against Sargeant Bandres and the other sergeants. The Mission has also reasonable grounds to believe that sexual violence was committed against Sargeant Bandres in the form of threats of rape. 899. DGCIM officers from the Special Directorate of Penal and Criminalistic Investigations under the leadership of Hannover Guerrero were involved, along with officers from the Special Affairs Unit, including Alexander Granko Arteaga. CASE 17: Captain Rafael Acosta Arévalo The Arrest and Detention 900. On 22 June 2019, Captain Rafael Acosta Arévalo’s wife, Waleska Pérez, published a video on social media expressing concern that she had not heard from her husband since 2 p.m. the previous day.1618 At that time, he had been heading to a “personal meeting” in Guatire, Miranda state, with active and retired military officers. For several days, his family did not know his whereabouts. His lawyers were unable to communicate with him until 28 June 2019, when he appeared before a military court (see below). 1619 901. On Wednesday, 26 June 2019, the Government announced that DGCIM had detained Captain Acosta Arévalo. In a press conference, the Minister of Communication and Information, Jorge Rodríguez, announced that Captain Acosta Arévalo had been arrested, with other individuals, accused of involvement in a coup plot on 23 and 24 June 2019 called “Vuelvan Caras”.1620 The Minister showed a video of Captain Acosta Arévalo supposedly planning the plot. The Minister did not provide information about his place of detention. 902. On 27 June 2019, Attorney General Tarek William Saab made a televised statement adding to the information presented the previous day by Minister Jorge Rodríguez. 1621 He said that the Public Prosecutor’s Office was opening an investigation into the alleged “Vuelvan Caras” plot. The Attorney General accused fourteen civilians and retired military 1616 1617 1618 1619 1620 1621 Document C3DD24, on file with the Mission. Mission Interview with Sandra Hernández on 24 June 2020. https://twitter.com/TAMARA_SUJU/status/1142553771857371136?s=20. Mission Interview with Waleska Pérez on 24 April 2020, Mission Interview with Alonso Medina in April 2020. YouTube Video, Luigini Bracci Roa, ¿Quién era Rafael Acosta Arévalo y por qué fue detenido? Videos mostrados por Jorge Rodríguez, 26 June 2016, available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhUPlRf-ElM. YouTube Video, Luigini Bracci Roa, Fiscal General Tarek William Saab: Rueda de prensa sobre golpe de estado del 23 y 24 junio 2019, 27 June 2019, available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8mYPObfjKQ. 181