Opposition leaders say Venezuelan navy captain who died in custody was tortured

Venezuelan opposition leaders said a navy captain who died in custody Sunday was tortured, according to reports. 

Rafael Acosta died after he was detained over alleged involvement in a plot to overthrow President Nicolas Maduro, according to Reuters. 

Acosta is one of more than 100 jailed active and retired Venezuelan officers. He is so far the only one to die in the government’s custody, according to the New York Times. {mosads}

The Venezuelan defense ministry said in a statement that Acosta fainted before a military tribunal on June 28 and was transferred to a military hospital, according to Reuters. 

“Despite providing him with the appropriate medical attention, he died,” Reuters reports the statement said.

Acosta’s wife, Waleska Perez, said in an interview with EVTV Miami husband was barely conscious in his court hearing after being beaten and tortured. 

Statements released by the information ministry and the state prosecutor’s office did not describe Acosta’s cause of death, Reuters reported. 

Last week Maduro alleged military officers and opposition politicians plotted to overthrow his government, according to Reuters. 

Maduro, who has survived one coup and one assassination attempt in the past two years, has repeatedly used unconfirmed coup accusations to jail political opponent snd instill fear int he armed forces, according to the New York Times.