Five Colombians were transferred to a military court on Wednesday to face espionage and sabotage charges after Venezuelan officials accused them of spying on and tampering with the nation’s power grid.
The proceedings will take place at a military tribunal in the northeastern city of Maracay, the state-run ABN news agency said.ABN did not say when it would begin.
Three other Colombians arrested in the same case were released, relatives said, though it was not clear whether they were absolved of any possible charges.
Military prosecutors have not spoken about the case, but Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez announced last month that the Colombians were arrested as suspected spies. He said several carried documents identifying them as members of the Colombian military.
Officials claim they were photographing power plants, and Chavez said he believed they were involved in an effort to sabotage Venezuela’s electrical grid to worsen the country’s energy crisis.
Investigators say they confiscated a camera containing images of power plants and installations connected to the grid, though no photos have been made public.
Colombia’s government has denied involvement in any attempt to spy on or sabotage Venezuela’s power grid.
Colombian President Alvaro Uribe also has expressed concern about the treatment of his country’s citizens and urged human rights groups to monitor the case.
The arrests have escalated long-standing tensions between Chavez’s administration and Colombia’s government. Chavez is angry over Uribe’s deal to give the US military increased access to Colombian military bases. Colombia accuses Venezuela of supporting Colombia’s Marxist rebels — an allegation that Chavez denies.
Meanwhile, 19 Colombians were reported arrested in Miranda state on suspicion of illegally trimming trees on public property and unlawful weapons possession.
Colombian Defense Minister Gabriel Silva said it would appear that Venezuelan authorities are increasingly harassing his compatriots.
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