Twelve policemen involved in 'coup attempt' against Ecuadorian president ordered to preventive prison

[News_Editor]

Twelve policemen involved in 'coup attempt' against Ecuadorian president ordered to preventive prison

2010-10-08 07:14:11 GMT+7 (ICT)

QUITO, ECUADOR (BNO NEWS) – An Ecuadorian judge on Thursday ordered preventive prison for twelve police officers involved in last Thursday's 'coup attempt' against President Rafael Correa, officials said.

The twelve law enforcement agents will be imprisoned while the investigation is ongoing to prevent them from fleeing the country. In addition, nineteen police officers were ordered to precautionary measures like presenting before a judge each eight days.

So far, Ecuadorian authorities have arrested 58 individuals for their alleged involvement in the violent events that paralyzed the South American nation. On the other hand, three police officers were freed on Thursday after being cleared of all accusations.

Fidel Araujo, a close collaborator of former president Lucio Gutierrez, was ordered preventive prison in order to be investigated on allegations of inciting the police rebellion last Thursday. President Correa has insisted that the events were a coup attempt organized by the former president and his followers.

On Thursday night, Ecuadorian president Rafael Correa was rescued from a Quito hospital by the Army where he was being held by police officers protesting a new law that eliminated benefits for military members and police officers, although the government claims it was a planned coup attempt.

Following the incident, Ecuadorian police chief Freddy Martinez announced his resignation to his post on Friday. He said that some outsiders were among the protesters and said that "a commander that was disrespected, offended and assaulted by his subordinates cannot continue at the helm."

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