Caracas Daily Journal (Jeremy Morgan): The focus of attention in the controversy over former Attorney General Isaías Rodríguez' investigation of State Prosecutor Danilo Anderson has shifted to Giovanny Vásquez, a shadowy individual who's described as a star witness in the case.
Vásquez, who's of Colombian origin, appears to be playing hard to get, although his lawyer says he is willing to make statement to the State Prosecutors Office in Caracas. A meeting is said to have been arranged for Tuesday next week.
The whereabouts of the witness, who resides in Yaracuy state but is said to have been brought to Caracas, are unknown. He's said to be at a secret location somewhere in the capital, warning that he could seek political asylum and demanding assurances of his personal safety.
In this, Vásquez has something in common with Hernan Contreras, the state prosecutor who opened up a hornet's nest of questions about how the Anderson investigation – in which he took part – was conducted.
Contreras has also voiced concern about his safety and warned that he could take refuge at a foreign embassy. Just where he's hiding out remains something of a mystery, too.
Vásquez' lawyer, Morly Uzcátegui, promises that his client has a surprise in store for the authorities. They are hints that Vásquez was present when a plot to kill Anderson was discussed, or at least has knowledge about it.
Anderson was murdered when a bomb blew up his car as he was driving through a Caracas suburb on the night of November 8, 2004. He had been investigating up to 400 people whom he suspected of being behind the political crisis which briefly removed President Hugo Chávez from office in April 2002.In the immediate wake of Anderson's death, the presumption was that he was killed on behalf of somebody he was investigating.
Three men called Guevara were given long prison sentences for planting the bomb, but were not found responsible for instigating the murder.
Speaking through Uzcátegui, Vásquez has said he'll talk at the State Prosecutor's Office providing he's guaranteed protection.
If not, he'll apparently still talk, but from inside an embassy. Either way, his lawyer insists that what he has to say will be "100 percent of the truth."
For his part, Uzcátegui seems determined to go to the very top. When a meeting with a senior official at the State Prosecutor's Office was offerred to Uzcátegui, he demanded to see Rodríguez' successor as Attorney General, Luisa Ortega Díaz.
In the meantime, Rodríguez has secured his wish to sit on the bench at the Supreme Justice Tribunal (TSJ). He has been designated as an "alternate" for TSJ President Luisa Estella Morales and will sit on the Constitutional Chamber. Alternates substitute for public officials unable to carry out their duties.
Vásquez, who's of Colombian origin, appears to be playing hard to get, although his lawyer says he is willing to make statement to the State Prosecutors Office in Caracas. A meeting is said to have been arranged for Tuesday next week.
The whereabouts of the witness, who resides in Yaracuy state but is said to have been brought to Caracas, are unknown. He's said to be at a secret location somewhere in the capital, warning that he could seek political asylum and demanding assurances of his personal safety.
In this, Vásquez has something in common with Hernan Contreras, the state prosecutor who opened up a hornet's nest of questions about how the Anderson investigation – in which he took part – was conducted.
Contreras has also voiced concern about his safety and warned that he could take refuge at a foreign embassy. Just where he's hiding out remains something of a mystery, too.
Vásquez' lawyer, Morly Uzcátegui, promises that his client has a surprise in store for the authorities. They are hints that Vásquez was present when a plot to kill Anderson was discussed, or at least has knowledge about it.
Anderson was murdered when a bomb blew up his car as he was driving through a Caracas suburb on the night of November 8, 2004. He had been investigating up to 400 people whom he suspected of being behind the political crisis which briefly removed President Hugo Chávez from office in April 2002.In the immediate wake of Anderson's death, the presumption was that he was killed on behalf of somebody he was investigating.
Three men called Guevara were given long prison sentences for planting the bomb, but were not found responsible for instigating the murder.
Speaking through Uzcátegui, Vásquez has said he'll talk at the State Prosecutor's Office providing he's guaranteed protection.
If not, he'll apparently still talk, but from inside an embassy. Either way, his lawyer insists that what he has to say will be "100 percent of the truth."
For his part, Uzcátegui seems determined to go to the very top. When a meeting with a senior official at the State Prosecutor's Office was offerred to Uzcátegui, he demanded to see Rodríguez' successor as Attorney General, Luisa Ortega Díaz.
In the meantime, Rodríguez has secured his wish to sit on the bench at the Supreme Justice Tribunal (TSJ). He has been designated as an "alternate" for TSJ President Luisa Estella Morales and will sit on the Constitutional Chamber. Alternates substitute for public officials unable to carry out their duties.
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