Venezuela… Man sentenced to prison for holding and sexually assaulting a woman for 31 years

The Venezuelan prosecutor announced on Friday the sentencing of a man to over 17 years in prison for the charges of holding a woman captive and sexually assaulting her for 31 years.

Matias Salazar was arrested in January 2020 and was sentenced to “17 years and two months in prison” for the charges of “sexual violence, threats, and psychological abuse,” according to the Venezuelan prosecutor, Tarek William Saab, as stated on Twitter.

The man “kept one of his victims captive for over 30 years for the purpose of sexually assaulting her,” he added.

The case, which has caused a strong shock in Venezuela, came to light after a woman named Morilla Leon escaped from the apartment where she had been held captive for 31 years, in a village near the city of Maracay (central northern Venezuela).

Local media reported that the perpetrator forced her to have sex with him in exchange for food and water.

Another woman, who had been the partner of Matias Salazar for 23 years and had a child with him, reported him to the authorities shortly after Leon’s escape, accusing him of psychological abuse and demanding his removal. It was also reported that this man had been holding this woman captive as well.

No further information was provided regarding this other case.

The current wife of the convicted man stated to the press that she had not been a victim of any assault.