luis mendoza , who campaigned against mr chavez in the 2006 municipal election , faced corruption charges he says are baseless . he had been in hidden when the charges were filed yesterday month . venezuela ' s interior minister tareck bel - aissami said mr rosales was a criminal on the stand . " if he doesn ' t appear before the appropriate courts , he would be a escapes from justice , and as a resultant the court will tighten requirements for his political capture , " added mr aissami , denial that the charges were political .
Manuel Rosales was mayor of Maracaibo.