Name: Javier Peña
Arbitrarily detained: January 19, 2017
Place of confinement: Cárcel 26 de Julio
Occupation: Army Sergeant
Javier is one of the members of the 42nd Parachute and Special Operations Brigade of the state of Aragua. He was arrested by officials of the Directorate General of Military Counterintelligence (Dgcim) on January 19, 2017, for his alleged participation in the “nameless” coup.
Military prosecutors Yusnagry Pérez and Jean Carlos Latozefsky charge him with the crimes of treason against the homeland and instigation of rebellion. According to the court martial, Javier would have met with other uniformed officers in December 2016 to plan an assault to the Sniper Company.
The government links this alleged coup plan with General Baduel. On May 8, 2017, Javier was transferred without notice to his lawyers or relatives from Ramo Verde prison to the 26 de Julio prison in San Juan de los Morros, Guárico state.
His arbitrary transfer to a common jail was apparently a reprisal for having shown his support for political leader Leopoldo López. Today, he remains unjustly detained.
