María Lourdes Afiuni granted full freedom as her 16-year case is closed

Former judge María Lourdes Afiuni was granted full freedom on Friday and her case was permanently closed, her family said, El Nacional reported. Afiuni was arrested in December 2009 after Hugo Chávez publicly criticized her decision to grant conditional release to businessman Eligio Cedeño.

Her brother Nelson Afiuni and her lawyer Thelma Fernández said the decision closes a chapter marked by human rights violations, according to AP, as carried by Cadena 3. David Placeres opened his show with the news of her release.