Venezuela: Defense of Mayor Antonio Ledezma will appeal conspiracy accusations

The defense of Caracas Mayor Antonio Ledezma, who was arrested for alleged conspiracy against the Venezuelan government, will appeal the decision on the grounds that the allegations are “unfounded,” his lawyer said during the weekend.

“The defense will exercise all means granted by law, without excluding any. In the immediate future we will raise an appeal because the charges against the mayor are unfounded and illegal,” said lawyer Omar Estacio.

Ledezma, opponent to the government of President Nicolas Maduro, was arrested last Thursday when he was in his office in Caracas for “allegedly engaging in crimes of conspiracy and association” as decreed by the prosecution on Friday.

The mayor was transferred to prison Ramo Verde, about 30 km from the capital, where another opposition, leader Leopoldo Lopez, remains for more than a year ago.

Estacio, lawyer of the metropolitan mayor re-elected in 2013, said he will also introduce a motion to vacate because he believes that “some acts were flawed.”