US tightens noose: files fresh torture charges against Maduro

New York: Ousted Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, are set to face fresh US charges accusing them of conspiring to torture political opponents to cling to power, exposing them to a mandatory minimum of 50 years in prison if convicted on all charges, according to Reuters.

The additional indictment significantly escalates the criminal case against Maduro, 63, and Flores, 70, who were captured during a US military raid in January and taken to New York. Both had previously pleaded not guilty to charges alleging they abused their positions to help drug traffickers transport cocaine. Their lawyers have also denied the torture allegations.

Prosecutors from the Manhattan US Attorney's Office allege that Maduro directed officials to torture opposition politicians and military personnel suspected of conspiring against him.

According to the indictment, Maduro ordered officials in 2014 to detain military personnel to extract information about potential dissidents. When some refused to cooperate, he allegedly instructed officials to intensify the pressure. Flores is accused of supporting the plan and rejecting an alternative intelligence-gathering approach.

Neither Maduro nor Flores is accused of personally carrying out acts of torture. Their arraignment is scheduled before US District Judge Alvin Hellerstein in Manhattan.

If convicted on all charges, both face a mandatory minimum sentence of 50 years in prison. Their trial is scheduled to begin on June 1, 2027.

The case marks another major escalation in the confrontation between Washington and Venezuela's former leadership. During Maduro's 13 years in power, successive US administrations imposed sanctions on Venezuelan officials and state companies over alleged human rights abuses, corruption and election manipulation.

Maduro had accused Washington of seeking to remove him to gain greater control over Venezuela's oil and other natural resources.