Ecuadorian authorities arrest hospital director where President Correa was held during coup attempt

Ecuadorian authorities arrest hospital director where President Correa was held during coup attempt

2010-10-28 07:01:04 GMT+7 (ICT)

QUITO, ECUADOR (BNO NEWS) -- Ecuadorian authorities on Wednesday arrested Cesar Carrion, the director of the hospital where President Rafael Correa was held during a coup attempt last month.

The arrest of Carrion was ordered by President Correa shortly after removing him from his post. Carrion's fate will be decided by a judge and could face up to three months of preventive prison.

Carrion was accused by the Ecuadorian leader of being part of the conspiracy that attempted to remove him from the helm. The accusation was made following Carrion's comments to CNN in which he said that Correa was not held against his will during the incidents of September 30.

President Correa appointed Colonel Pablo Naranjo as the new director of the Police Hospital in Quito. Naranjo was presented to his new subordinates on Tuesday,

That Thursday night, Correa was rescued from the 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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