Chile begins trial for the murder of Venezuelan lieutenant Ronald Ojeda

The first trial has commenced in Chile regarding the kidnapping and murder of Venezuelan lieutenant Ronald Ojeda, an event that occurred in February 2024. Prosecutors are targeting Maickel David Villegas Rodríguez, who was extradited from Costa Rica, alleging he played a key role in the crime by recording the abduction and assisting in the extraction of the victim.

Regional Prosecutor Héctor Barros stated that the prosecution is seeking a 20-year prison sentence for Villegas. The prosecution noted that the motive for the kidnapping differed from typical extortion-based crimes committed by the Tren de Aragua gang; instead, they allege the target was selected due to his political profile as a dissident who had opposed the Nicolás Maduro administration.

Due to the high-profile nature of the case and its connection to organized crime, the Second Oral Criminal Court implemented strict security protocols. These measures included barring the general public from the proceedings and requiring journalists to surrender their mobile phones, providing notebooks and pencils for note-taking instead.