Venezuela arrests third person for DirectTV pull out

Venezuelan authorities on Friday jailed a DirecTV local manager under an arrest warrant after the service was pulled from the country. Carlos Villamizar was the last of three managers jailed by Venezuela.Villamizar said on Friday from the notorious Helicoide jail in Caracas that he had no knowledge that services were to end and he was innocent of any crimes. Carlos Villamizar, a father of two young children, said he was a victim along with hundreds of fellow employees who lost their jobs.The Dallas-based parent company AT&T abruptly ditched its popular satellite TV service on May 19. It cited US sanctions that prohibit DirecTV from broadcasting channels that required by the administration of President Nicolás Maduro.The men's attorneys Jesus Loreto, who called it unjust, said the men had cooperated with authorities, appearing this week first at chief prosecutor's office and then the Venezuelan Supreme Court. Hector Rivero and Rodolfo Carrano, the other two employees, appeared at the Supreme Court on Thursday.Maduro's government accused the company of denying its citizens rights to information. Residents in Caracas have protested after losing the service when the population is in the middle of a quarantine order, many having no other way of receiving movies, news and sports. It came as the administration of US President Donald Trump increased political pressure against Maduro in a "maximum pressure" campaign, aimed at ending the socialist leader's rule. (Image Credit: AP)

Advertisement

Venezuela arrests third person for DirectTV pull out

Carlos Villamizar was the last of three managers jailed by Venezuela.Villamizar said on Friday from the notorious Helicoide jail in Caracas that he had no knowledge that services were to end and he was innocent of any crimes.

Advertisement