The arrest of Raúl Baduel 2:34
(CNN Spanish) -
Former Defense Minister Raúl Isaías Baduel died this Tuesday in a Caracas prison, the Minister of the Penitentiary Service, Mirelys Contreras, reported in a tweet.
"We regret to inform that today, citizen Raul Baduel died of a cardiorespiratory arrest due to complications derived from covid-19," the official wrote.
"Having the first immunization dose of the vaccine, he received the rigorous medical care in his place of detention," he added.
CNN is trying to reach Baduel's family and legal team to obtain more details of the death.
Baduel was detained at "El Helicoide" in Caracas, one of the headquarters of the Bolivarian Intelligence Service (SEBIN).
Attorney General Tarek William Saab also addressed Baduel's death on Twitter.
"We convey our condolences to his family and friends," he wrote.
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Retired General Raúl Isaías Baduel was serving a sentence of almost 8 years for various crimes, including abuse of power.
The First Military Execution Court granted Baduel parole on August 12, 2015. He was held for six years in the Ramo Verde military prison.
Regarding the accusations, the Baduel family said through a tweet published in August 2015 that the former minister's conviction was unjust.
Baduel was Minister of Defense and reached the rank of General in Chief.
He was considered very close to Chávez and was crucial in the president's return to power after a brief coup in April 2002.
In 2007, he opposed the constitutional reform proposed by Chávez.
In 2009 he was arrested and in 2010 he received a sentence of almost 8 years in prison for a millionaire embezzlement during his tenure as Minister of Defense.
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