Washington, July 24 (H.S.): The U.S. State Department recently facilitated the release of Dahud Hanid Ortiz, a dual American-Venezuelan national, from a Venezuelan prison in a swap for 10 Americans and permanent residents. Mr. Ortiz had been convicted for the 2016 murder of three individuals in Madrid and sentenced to 30 years in prison. Court records indicate he initially intended to kill a lawyer connected to his wife but ended up murdering two women and a man mistakenly assumed to be the lawyer. He attempted to cover his crime by setting the office on fire and eventually fled to Venezuela after the attack.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio acknowledged the U.S. government's efforts to rescue unjustly held Americans abroad, while the release of Ortiz raised concerns. The intended target of Ortiz's attack, Victor Salas, expressed alarm at his release, fearing for his safety. Families of the victims were outraged, questioning under what terms Ortiz was released and whether he would face consequences in the U.S.

Military documents reveal that Ortiz served 19 years in the Army and received a Purple Heart but was later dismissed for fraud. Despite Spain's attempts to extradite him, Venezuelan law prevented it, leading to his trial in Venezuela. The U.S. administration did not clarify its knowledge of Ortiz’s violent past during the negotiations.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar