Retired Venezuelan general awarded prison term

Hugo ChavezAccording to officials, a onetime confidant of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez was sentenced to almost eight years in prison for corruption and abuse of power.

The Los Angeles Times reported on Sunday that retired Gen. Raul Isaias Baduel was sentenced on Friday by a military court for his conviction on charges of abuse of power, misappropriation of funds and violation of the military code while he was an officer.

Although Baduel was part of a handful of military leaders who helped return Chavez to power after a short-lived military coup in April 2002, the two clashed, resulting in Baduel's resignation in 2007.

The Times also reported that in 1982, Baduel took a secret oath with Chavez, who was an army officer at the time, to rid Venezuela of capitalism. Baduel later denounced Chavez's socialist and anti-United States policies, saying they were ruining the country.

Chavez branded him a traitor.

Chavez said, "The extreme right has found another pawn. Baduel is betraying years of friendship, solidarity and at the same time himself."

Responding to the accusation of misappropriation of funds, Baduel's daughter said the court presented no proof.

"God is with us and divine justice always present," Baduel sent out a Twitter message on Saturday. (With Inputs from Agencies)