Alex Saab: Cape Verde Prosecutor’s Office says he self-mutilates in prison – Investigative Unit

In the final stretch of the extradition of the Barranquillero Álex Saab to the United States, a war of accusations broke out between Cape Verde and its defense.

On the morning of this Wednesday, Saab, whom the United States asks for extradition for a case of money laundering linked to the Venezuelan regime, accused the Cape Verde Police of having looted his diplomatic briefcase to hide evidence that would demonstrate his illegal capture, on June 12.

(We invite you to read: Á. Saab says that Cape Verdean police looted his diplomatic briefcase)

And just a few minutes ago, the Prosecutor’s Office of that African island country denounced that the indicated figurehead of the Nicolás Maduro regime would be injuring himself in his cell.

According to a statement released by former Colombian President Andrés Pastrana, after an official search, personal items were taken from him with which, they say, he had been “self-mutilating.”

(You may be interested: Exclusive: the new lawyer for Álex Saab in Colombia speaks)

According to the Cape Verdean Prosecutor’s Office, after the complaints of alleged torture that Saab made public through letters made known by various media, a judicial inspection of the Barranquilla’s cell was ordered to investigate the veracity of his statements.

“The visit was made by two attorneys of the Republic and a justice official, and from the steps taken it is clear that there is no evidence that the detainee has been tortured,” the communication emphasizes.

And next, it is noted: “On the contrary, there are strong indications that he has been mutilating himself inside the cell, which led the Prison Directorate to remove the personal object used for that purpose.”

(It may be of interest to you: Saab says hooded men beat him to sign extradition)

These details that the Cape Verde Prosecutor’s Office is going to make this Wednesday are supported by the statements that Saab made by means of a letter, a week ago, according to which he was being the victim of alleged beatings to which they subject him hooded to sign his voluntary extradition to the United States and testify against Maduro and his family.

“The United States has four native employees of Cape Verde, who constantly enter my cell at night with hoods and beat me to death so that I make false statements against Maduro,” say apart of the communication, published by the newspaper The world, from Spain.

(We invite you to consult: Cape Verde prevents the entry of Álex Saab’s lawyer and deported him)

Although they do not give the date or recipient of the communication, they reproduce other sections.

“The purpose of these criminals (…) is to sign the voluntary extradition to the United States and make false statements against President Maduro and his family,” the letter attributed to Saab stated.

The United States also denied torture

However, hours after the Barranquillero’s letter was known, a spokesman for the Donald Trump government came out to reject these accusations, which he described as false, and to warn that it is all a strategy to unduly influence the definition of the process of extradition that takes place (in its final stage) in Cape Verde.

“Saab’s claims that he is being tortured are demonstrably false (…). It is well documented that both Saab and the Maduro regime have launched an aggressive campaign of lies and misinformation in an attempt to influence the legal process of Cape Verde and international public opinion, “was stated at the time from the State Department.

(You may be interested in: Saab’s trips to Iran to bring gasoline behind the back of the US)

In addition, Washington assured that there is “faith and confidence” that the Cape Verde legal system, which they described as a “model in the region for its adherence to the rule of law”, will act in accordance with the law and “will not be allowed to influence”.

(See here all the articles of the Investigative Unit of EL TIEMPO)

For now, the lawyers who exercise the international defense of Álex Saab, headed by former Spanish judge Baltasar Garzón -nor those who represent him in the African island country-, have not commented on the statement from the Cape Verdean Prosecutor’s Office and the alleged “self-mutilation” that Maduro’s figurehead is being inflicted from the prison in which he awaits the definition of his extradition.

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