A former political ally of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has gone into hiding after a warrant was issued for his arrest, his daughter said on Friday.
Eduardo Manuitt, a former state governor, is in hiding for his safety, Lenny Manuitt said.
A warrant was issued for Eduardo Manuitt’s arrest after prosecutors accused him of pocketing government funds a decade ago during his tenure as governor of central Guarico state.
Eduardo Manuitt broke with Chavez last year, after the president’s party did not support his daughter to succeed him as governor.
Lenny Manuitt said her father was innocent and called the allegations politically motivated. She declined to comment on whether he had fled the country.
The former governor is the second Venezuelan politician to go into hiding recently, alleging he’s facing charges for political reasons and can’t expect a fair trial.
Opposition leader Manuel Rosales is seeking political asylum in Peru after Venezuelan prosecutors last month charged him with “illegal enrichment” when he was governor of Venezuela’s western Zulia state. Rosales has stepped down as mayor of Venezuela’s second-largest city, Maracaibo, and says he is the victim of political persecution.
Leading Chavez opponents say the government is using targeted corruption probes and new laws to sideline them and limit their power.
Chavez denied it in a televised speech on Friday, saying his government simply aimed to fight corruption.
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