Former Gen. Raul Isaias Baduel was sentenced to a nearly eight-year prison term on charges of abuse of power, misappropriation of funds and violation of the military code while he was an officer according to the LA Times.
Baduel was once an ally of president Chavez. Baduel helped Chavez to restore his power after a military coup in April 2002. Baduel campaigned in 2007 against a constitutional amendment referendum to advance the socialist model and to enable the president to run for reelection indefinitely, which voters rejected. Baduel has been in custody since his arrest in April 2009.
Charges against him included the misuse of $3.9 million, a charge the court said it proved through testimony of army officials who said they never received money budgeted to them.
Baduel is not the only one that has been arrested for criticizing the government. In March, former Zulia state Gov. Oswaldo Alvarez Paz was arrested after saying Venezuela had become a narco-state and implying that Chavez was responsible.
Good blog. Good mix of current events, news and general information about the media. Grade: 160 of 200 (B).
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