Maduro: I'm innocent... president of my country

VENEZUELA'S deposed president Nicolas Maduro was shackled but defiant yesterday as he made his first public comments since being taken to the US.

- BY MARTYN BROWN Political Editor

He declared himself “innocent” and a “decent man” as he pleaded not guilty to federal drug trafficking charges in a New York court.

Maduro said in Spanish: “I am the president of Venezuela, I consider myself a prisoner of war. I was captured at my home in Caracas.”

He also told 92-year-old veteran judge Alvin Hellerstein: “I’m innocent. I am not guilty. I am a decent man, the president of my country.”

Maduro was appearing on narcoterrorism charges the US administration believes justify capturing him and bringing him to the US.

His feet shackled and wearing a blue and beige jail uniform with orange slippers, Maduro, 63, and his wife Cilia Flores were led into the courtroom at around noon.

The 30-minute proceedings, not on camera, are likely to be just the start of a prolonged legal fight over whether he can stand trial in the US. The couple put on headsets to hear the English hearing translated.

Flores, 69, also pleaded not guilty, saying she was “completely innocent” after stating: “I am Cilia Flores Maduro, I am the first lady of Venezuela.” At the end, Maduro turned to wave at the gallery, from where a tearful member of the public told him: “You will pay on behalf of Venezuela.”

Handcuffed

In response, Maduro said: “In the name of God, I will be free.”

The prisoners were then escorted across the city by heavy security back to their cells. They will next appear in court on March 17.

The couple were earlier transported under armed guard from the Brooklyn detention centre to the Manhattan courthouse.

Handcuffed and wearing prison clothes, they were seen being bundled into a helicopter to fly across the East River.