The director of the INOF was arrested for alleged corruption

Ahiza Guillermina Maestre Betancourt, director of the National Institute of Women’s Guidance -INOF-, was arrested for alleged involvement in acts of corruption inside this penitentiary center located in Los Teques, Miranda state.

The arrest It occurred after a search carried out by members of the Bolivarian National Police and officials of the Ministry of Penitentiary Service last Friday.

During the operation, which lasted more than nine hours, the authorities They seized more than 50 cell phones, which, according to statements by the inmates, were introduced with Maestre’s consent, reports the local newspaper. Advance.

According to the director herself, she had in her possession three phones in the pockets of a sweater at the time of the search.

Maestre was transferred to the headquarters of the Criminal Investigation Division of the Bolivarian National Police and will be at the disposal of the Public Ministry in the next few hours.

Two soldiers detained

The arrest of the director of the INOF occurred 20 days after the capture of two members of the Bolivarian National Guard, José Gregorio Armas and Víctor Andrés Guevara Castillo, who were also performing custodial duties at the INOF.

Both soldiers were accused of illegally introducing cellular equipment and other items into the prison, such as cigarettes, clothing, sex toys and medicines, with the intention of selling them to inmates.

The Second Control Court sentenced them to deprivation of liberty for crimes such as delay or intentional omission of aggravated functions, illicit introduction of equipment and gathering.

Cell phones in detention centers in Venezuela, although prohibited, have allowed inmates to show irregularities during procedures such as searches and even the inhumane conditions in which they are found. In La Crisálida prison, also in Los Teques, the women denounced the alleged violation of their human rights through videos.