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🇻🇪 Venezuela /Crime & Justice

Second inmate dies at Fénix Lara prison in less than a week, OVP reports

From El Nacional · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • The Venezuelan Prison Observatory (OVP) reported the death of a second inmate at Fénix Lara prison in less than a week.
  • The deceased, identified as Robinson Johan Esquivel Fajardo, died on August 24 due to health complications while receiving dialysis.
  • The OVP criticized prison conditions, questioning the medical care provided and demanding an investigation into the deaths.

The Venezuelan Prison Observatory (OVP) has denounced the death of Robinson Johan Esquivel Fajardo, 45, at the Fénix Lara Penitentiary Center in Barquisimeto. He is the second inmate to die at the facility in under a week. Esquivel Fajardo passed away on August 24 after experiencing severe health complications shortly after being admitted to the Antonio María Pineda Central Hospital. The OVP highlighted that he was receiving dialysis, a treatment also undergone by the first inmate who died, César Enrique Ostos, 44, on August 19. Ostos reportedly suffered from chronic kidney failure and contracted hepatitis due to his prison conditions.

"Being sick in prison can become a death sentence due to the lack of comprehensive and timely medical assistance for those deprived of liberty," the OVP warned. The NGO questioned whether adequate medical attention was provided and what actions judicial authorities took regarding the inmates' health conditions. "Were the necessary protocols followed during their treatment? What actions did judicial authorities take concerning their condition? Now, with a second death, we add another question: is there an investigation into these deaths?" the organization asked.

Being sick in prison can become a death sentence due to the lack of comprehensive and timely medical assistance for those deprived of liberty.

— Observatorio Venezolano de Prisiones (OVP)The OVP commented on the dire health situation for inmates.

The OVP further stated that the Penitentiary Service ignores the complaints from the NGO and inmates' families. "We see how not only these deaths are ignored, but also no measures are taken to care for the inmate population suffering from various pathologies." The Observatory believes that authorities repeatedly violate "the right to life, health, and physical integrity of the penitentiary population."

Were the necessary protocols followed during their treatment? What actions did judicial authorities take concerning their condition? Now, with a second death, we add another question: is there an investigation into these deaths?

— Observatorio Venezolano de Prisiones (OVP)The OVP questioned the authorities' response to the inmates' deaths.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by El Nacional in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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