Maduro to appear before a New York appeals court tomorrow

Former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro is set to appear before a New York court tomorrow, Wednesday, six months after his arrest, as the preliminary hearing in the case against him resumes.

The Associated Press reported that it remains unclear whether Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, will attend in person.

Maduro and Flores plead not guilty, accusing the United States of kidnapping them. They have been detained in a jail in Broome County, New York, since their arrest.

A previous hearing focused on who would bear the legal defense costs for the couple. While Maduro’s lawyers sought to use Venezuelan state funds, the prosecution objected. The court left the decision on this matter open at that time.

Earlier this year, he and his wife were arrested in the Venezuelan capital, Caracas, in a controversial operation carried out by U.S. special forces.

He is accused of using his position to facilitate the smuggling of tons of cocaine into the United States. To this end, Maduro is alleged to have conspired with drug traffickers and personally benefited from the scheme.