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Venezuelan Court Gives 30-Year Sentence to 65-Year-Old Doctor Over WhatsApp Voice Message

Rights groups say the case exemplifies post‑election prosecutions of critics in Venezuela.

Overview

  • The penal court issued the ruling on November 14, convicting Marggie Orozco of treason, incitement to hatred, and conspiracy.
  • The prosecution followed a complaint from pro‑government community figures linked to CLAP after Orozco criticized authorities and urged voting in a neighborhood chat.
  • Orozco was arrested on August 5, 2024, in San Juan de Colón and is held at the Centro Penitenciario de Occidente in Santa Ana, Táchira.
  • Humanitarian groups report she suffered at least one heart attack in custody and has chronic depression, raising concerns about her access to medical care.
  • Local and international NGOs describe the proceedings as marred by irregularities and place the case within a wider pattern of detentions and sting‑style prosecutions after the 2024 election.