CARACAS, June 30 – Venezuelan authorities late on Saturday confirmed the death of a military officer who opposition leaders and family members said was tortured in custody after his detention over alleged involvement in a coup plot against President Nicolas Maduro. The death of navy captain Rafael Acosta came on the heels of a visit by the United Nation’s human rights chief Michelle Bachelet to investigate rights violations ranging from extrajudicial killings to forced disappearances. “They tortured him so much that they killed him,” Perez said in an interview with EVTV Miami that was broadcast over Instagram. Maduro last week said military officers, with the support of opposition politicians and foreign political leaders, had plotted to overthrow his government. He says the country is unfairly targeted for criticism by foreign governments, and insists that his administration investigates and prosecutes human rights abusers.

Source: National Post June 30, 2019 14:48 UTC