The son of a man from southern Manitoba currently imprisoned in Venezuela for over ten years is optimistic that his father might be among the detainees released amid the ongoing political unrest in the South American nation. Dave Sawatzky, aged 64, was apprehended after landing a plane he was piloting on an airstrip in the western region of Venezuela in the early hours of February 22, 2013.
In 2018, a court sentenced him along with a Colombian companion on charges related to drug trafficking, ties to organized crime, and breaches of air safety regulations, such as transporting hazardous materials, as per Venezuelan court records. Despite this, Sawatzky’s son, David, hailing from Morden, Manitoba, insists that his father’s intention in Venezuela was not drug trafficking but to sell his aircraft to a local company.
According to David, his father revealed that he had purchased the plane in Texas with the aim of selling it for profit in Venezuela. However, upon landing, the aircraft was seized by national guardsmen who confiscated his money and accused him of drug trafficking, leading to his prolonged incarceration.
Following the recent capture of former President Nicolas Maduro by U.S. forces, the Venezuelan government has pledged to release some political prisoners. As of the latest count by the non-governmental organization Foro Penal, approximately 143 individuals have already been freed, raising hopes for Dave Sawatzky’s son that his father might also be granted freedom.
David Sawatzky expressed optimism that this development could prompt a reevaluation of his father’s case, highlighting the lack of substantial evidence against him. Sawatzky and his Colombian co-defendant had initially planned a flight from Belize to a Venezuelan city but encountered fuel shortages, forcing an emergency landing, as indicated in court documents.
Authorities discovered empty fuel drums with traces of aviation fuel and cocaine residues inside the aircraft during a search. Sawatzky’s sentence was later reduced to 17 years after an appeal in 2021, citing irregularities in evidence handling and the absence of concrete links to organized crime.
Despite doubts cast on the validity of the charges, bureaucratic delays have hindered Sawatzky’s potential release based on time served and revised sentencing. The lawyer handling the case maintains Sawatzky’s innocence and underscores the need for a fair review of the circumstances surrounding his detention.
The case has drawn attention from experts like Errol Mendes, highlighting potential corruption influencing Sawatzky’s incarceration. The ongoing plight of political prisoners in Venezuela remains a concern, with international observers urging for swift action to address human rights violations in the country.
Efforts to seek assistance from Canadian authorities have yielded limited progress, with Global Affairs Canada acknowledging the situation while maintaining confidentiality due to privacy concerns. Meanwhile, Sawatzky’s son continues to advocate for his father’s release, hoping that the evolving political landscape in Venezuela will lead to a positive outcome for his family.