Venezuela agents remanded after detaining assembly head

By Lokman Ilhan

BOGOTA (AA) - Twelve agents from Venezuela’s intelligence service have been remanded into custody for briefly detaining the National Assembly chief, according to the Supreme Court on Thursday.

According to the webpage of the court, the Bolivarian Intelligence Service (SEBIN) agents were remanded over the charges of misconduct, deprivation of liberty and forming an organization to commit crime.

Head of Venezuela’s opposition-led National Assembly, Juan Guadio, was held for a short time by the SEBIN agents on Jan. 13.

Guaido, who was not well-known until recently in Venezuela, earlier declared that he did not accept the legitimacy of President Nicolas Maduro and said he had the constitutional authority to temporarily assume his role.

After the assembly chief's brief detention, Minister of Communication and Information Jorge Rodriguez told state channel VTV that SEBIN members were acting arbitrarily and they saw disciplinary proceedings.

Earlier, Maduro pointed to the scenes showing Guaido’s detention and described it as a "Hollywood-esque show."

Maduro had also said he instructed the dismissal of the SEBIN agents just after hearing of the incident.