Venezuela’s Supreme Court slapped an asset freeze and travel ban on Wednesday on Attorney General Luisa Ortega, a top critic of President Nicolas Maduro, after she accused him of creating a climate of terror.
Ortega has emerged as the most critical voice within the Venezuelan government as the authorities have cracked down on anti-Maduro protests, leaving a death toll of 77 people in just under three months.
The court, which is closely aligned with the embattled president, set a hearing for July 4 to decide whether Ortega should face trial for alleged professional malpractice — charges she has branded a political witch-hunt.
Until her fate is decided, the court ordered her bank accounts and assets frozen, and banned her from leaving the country.
Ortega is accused of lying about whether she supported the nomination of 33 new Supreme Court judges in 2015, which the opposition condemns as blatant court-packing by Maduro.
