A/HRC/45/CRP.11
eight months’ imprisonment.1652 An appeal against the convictions is currently before the
Court of Appeals. However, the Mission has not been able to verify the place of detention of
the accused.
924. 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
925. Based on the facts above, the Mission has reasonable grounds to believe that arbitrary
arrest and detention and short term enforced disappearence was committed against Captain
Acosta Arévalo. The Mission also has reasonable grounds to believe that torture and other
cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment was committed against Captain Acosta Arévalo to
the extent that it resulted in his death.
926. The DGCIM Special Directorate of Penal and Criminalistic Investigations and the
Special Affairs unit are beleived to have been involved in these violations.
CASE 18: Ariana Granadillo and Family
927. In January 2018, Ariana Granadillo was a 21-year-old medical student at Romulo
Gallegos National Experimental University. Ms. Granadillo’s father, Argenis Granadillo, is
retired Colonel Oswaldo García Palomo’s a second cousin. The Granadillo family lived in a
rural area in Monagas State where Mr. Granadillo worker as a farmer.1653
928. The Granadillo family and the García Palomo family had always had a close
relationship. In later January 2018, Ms. Granadillo moved in with the Garcia Palomo family
at their home in Miranda to undertake a medical internship at nearby Victorio Santaella
Hospital.
Detention of Sorbay Padilla and her Son (1 February 2018)
929. On 1 February 2018, Ms. Granadillo was at the García Palomo home with Colonel
Garcia Palomo’s wife, Sorbay Padilla. Ms. Padilla’s 22-year-old daughter, her 24-year-old
son and one of Ms. Granadillo’s female cousins were also there. Colonel García Palomo had
left a few days earlier, telling his family he was visiting their farm. 1654
930. At around 1 p.m., trucks and white sedans without plates entered the gated
neighbourhood. Ms. Padilla heard loud banging on the front door and yelling from outside.
She answered the door, and more than 20 officers entered the house. They said they had an
arrest warrant for Colonel García Palomo but did not present it.1655 They did not present a
warrant for the esearch or other arrests either.
931. The officers were armed and most wore DGCIM uniforms, although Ms. Granadillo
remembers two officers wore SEBIN uniforms.1656 Many had covered faces and some wore
balaclavas with images of skulls. Most were men, though witnesses recall at least two female
officers.1657 They responded to orders from an officer referred to as “Captain Santiago”. 1658
1652
1653
1654
1655
1656
1657
1658
Prensa Provea, Condena de implicados en asesinato de Rafael Acosta es insuficiente, available at
https://www.derechos.org.ve/actualidad/condena-de-implicados-en-asesinato-de-rafael-acosta-esinsuficiente. NTN24, Venezuela: Sentenciaron a 6 años y 8 meses a involucrados en la muerte del
capitán Acosta Arévalo, 25 September 2019, available at: https://www.ntn24.com/americalatina/venezuela/sentenciaron-6-anos-y-8-meses-involucrados-en-la-muerte-del-capitan-acosta.
Mission Interview with Ariana Granadillo on 18 May 2020; Mission Interview with Argenis
Granadillo on 9 June 2020.
Mission Interview with Ariana Granadillo on 18 May 2020; Mission Interview with Sorbay Padilla on
22 June 2020.
Mission Interview with Ariana Granadillo on 18 May 2020; Mission Interview with Sorbay Padilla on
22 June 2020; Investigator Field Report, Fifth Prosecutor’s Office Investigation Division, Public
Prosecutor’s Office of Colombia, 14 February 2018, on file with the Mission.
Mission Interview with Ariana Granadillo on 18 May 2020.
Mission Interview with Ariana Granadillo on 18 May 2020; Mission Interview with Sorbay Padilla on
22 June 2020.
Ibid.
185
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