By Thompson ABISOLA
Venezuela has appointed a new chief for its state intelligence agency, following the death of a politician in custody.
The appointment was announced in the nation’s Official Gazette published on Wednesday,
According to the gazette, Army Gen. Manuel Cristopher takes over the agency, known as Sebin.
Cristopher replaces outgoing Sebin chief Gustavo Gonzalez.
It was not immediately evident whether Gonzalez resigned or whether he would be given a new post.
The announcement came just weeks after the government announced that municipal legislator Fernando Alban had committed suicide by jumping from the 10th floor of the agency’s headquarters in Caracas.
However, critics described the act as murder that was officially ruled a suicide.
Opposition leaders said the government provided inconsistent accounts of the incident, adding that Alban had been tortured and later killed by security forces.
The incident drew global condemnation, and the White House accused President Nicolas Maduro’s government of involvement in Alban’s death.
But the Chief Prosecutor, Tarek Saab, described opposition critics as “sorcerers of necrophilia” who were taking advantage of Alban’s death to criticize Maduro.
Alban was jailed on Oct. 5, for alleged involvement in the explosion of two drones in August during a military parade which the government described as an assassination attempt on Maduro.
The Information Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
