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Reuters
Maikel Moreno has headed the Venezuelan Supreme Court since 2017
The United States offers a $ 5m (£ 3.9m) reward for information leading to the arrest or conviction of Venezuela’s Chief Justice, Maikel Moreno.
The United States accuses Moreno of participating in transnational organized crime, which he denies.
He is the last high-ranking official in the administration of President Nicolás Maduro for whom a multi-million dollar reward is offered.
The United States does not recognize the Maduro government as legitimate.
Who is Maikel Moreno?
The 54-year-old judge has directed the Venezuelan Supreme Court since February 2017.
The Supreme Court has played a key role in the annulment or annulment of laws approved by the National Assembly, the only institution that is not controlled by the Maduro government.
What is the United States accusing you of?
The United States Department of State alleges that Mr. Moreno received bribes in exchange for telling the judges to release the defendants or dismiss the cases altogether.
Earlier this year, a Florida court charged him with money laundering.
On Tuesday, the United States Transnational Organized Crime Rewards Program offered $ 5 million for information leading to his arrest or conviction for allegedly “participating in transnational organized crime.”
United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the United States government was sending a clear message.
How has Mr. Moreno reacted?
Moreno dismissed the accusations and said that “it was not the first time that the spokesmen of the American empire tried to attack me with their clumsy attacks, full of manipulations and lies.”
He added that “cowardly and unfounded accusations such as these only strengthen my desire to continue working from the Supreme Court to guarantee access to justice and due process to all citizens of the earth.”
Human rights groups say that the rights of Venezuelan citizens are routinely violated in the form of arbitrary arrests, torture by the security forces and extrajudicial executions.
A United Nations report released last week also said that victims of alleged human rights violations were having difficulty obtaining justice in Venezuelan courts.
The Maduro government dismissed the report as “partial”.
What happens next?
Previous offers of rewards for top Venezuelan officials have so far had little effect. In March, the United States accused President Maduro of “narcoterrorism” and said he would pay $ 15 million for information leading to his arrest.
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EPA
There is also a reward for information leading to the arrest of President Maduro (right)
Moreno, who as president of justice wields considerable power, is unlikely to face problems in Venezuela, where security forces continue to back the Maduro government.
However, he could face arrest if he travels abroad and he and his wife are now prohibited from entering the United States.
Despite their anti-American rhetoric, many Venezuelan officials have traveled to the United States in the past for vacations or shopping.
The United States has been tightening its sanctions against the Venezuelan government for months, but Maduro and his administration remain in power despite a rival claim to the presidency by Juan Guaidó.
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Guaidó, who heads the opposition-controlled National Assembly, declared himself interim president last year arguing that Maduro’s re-election had been fraudulent and therefore null and void.
The opposition leader is recognized by the United States, the United Kingdom, and more than 50 other nations as the legitimate president of Venezuela.
