Nicaraguan police arrest president of business union

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(CNN Spanish) -

The Nicaraguan National Police reported this Thursday, without specifying the place or circumstance, that it detained Michael Edwin Healy Lacayo, president of the Superior Council of Private Enterprise (COSEP) and the agricultural producer Álvaro Javier Vargas Duarte, also director of that business body, who, according to the institution, are being investigated for the alleged crimes of laundering money, property and assets to the detriment of the Nicaraguan State and society.

According to the police report, Healy and Vargas are also investigated, in accordance with article 1 of the Law for the Defense of the Rights of the People to Independence, Sovereignty and Self-Determination for Peace, for carrying out alleged "acts that undermine independence, sovereignty, and self-determination, incite foreign interference in internal affairs, request military interventions, organize with financing from foreign powers to carry out acts of terrorism and destabilization, propose and manage economic, commercial and financial blockades against the country and its institutions, demand, praise and applaud the imposition of sanctions against the State of Nicaragua and its citizens, and injure the supreme interests of the nation, "the statement said.

• Nicaraguan National Police arrest the president of COSEP

CNN is trying to reach COSEP's legal team to get their reaction, but so far they have not responded.

But in a statement the agency said that Healy was summoned this Thursday for an interview - without specifying the subject - at the headquarters of the Public Ministry that was rescheduled when he arrived at the scene.

While returning home COSEP denounced that Healy "was arbitrarily detained by the National Police and his driver Wilber Alberto Alvarado Molina was also detained."

The COSEP communication states that after these events, which it considers illegal, the National Police proceeded to search Healy's home.

"It should be noted that Mr. Healy has had precautionary measures from the IACHR since last August 3, 2018."

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In a subsequent statement, COSEP reported that after Healy's arrest, the police also arrested the first vice president of the business union Alvaro Vargas, who also received a summons to appear before the Public Ministry.

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Both Healy and Vargas join the 37 opponents arrested between May 28 and October 21, including 7 presidential hopefuls, most of whom are accused of alleged money laundering or conspiracy to undermine national integrity.

Both they and their families have rejected those charges.

Three of the lawyers who defend the opponents told CNN that the evidence presented in the trial does not demonstrate the responsibility of their defendants in the alleged facts.

The arrests occur within hours of a resolution of the OAS Permanent Council, approved by 26 ambassadors, calling for the release of imprisoned opponents and free and observed elections.

The Nicaraguan government rejected the summons, considering it a violation of national sovereignty.

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