Although there are still many doubts about the scope, execution and total amount of money embezzled from Petroleos de Venezuelathere are officially 31 corruption plots that leave so far 21 people arrested, of that number, 10 are civil servants and 11 businessmen, according to the Attorney General, Tarek William Saab.
(Read also: Who are those involved in the embezzlement of PDVSA and where did the money go?)
The detainees will be charged with “appropriation or distraction of public property, boasting or use of relationships or influences, money laundering and association and treason”Saab added at a press conference.
Although the prosecutor did not detail where the citizens are being held, he did mention their names and among them there are several close to Tareck El Aissami, a Chavismo leader who was the oil minister until a week ago.
The Vice President of Commerce and Supply of PDVSA, Antonio Jose Perez Suarez, the head of the Superintendency of Cryptoactives Joselit Ramirez and the now former congressman Hugbel Roa, one of the creators of the Venezuelan cryptocurrency Petro, are among the 21 imprisoned citizens.
The other officials arrested were members of the Department of Commerce and Supply of PDVSA and the Intendancy of Digital Mining.
The names
Officials of the Vice Presidency of Commerce and Supply of PDVSA:
José Agustín Ramos, Yamil Alejandro Martínez, Odoardo José Bordones, Heinrich Chapellín Biundo and Jesús Enrique Salazar.
Officials of the Digital Mining and Associated Processes Administration: Rajiv Alberto Mosqueda and Renny Gerardo Barrientos.
Entrepreneurs: Manuel Meneses, Rogers Martínez, Rafael Perdomo, Roger Perdomo, Daniel Prieto, Kristhonfer Barrios, Johanna Torres, Alejandro Arroyo, Bernardo Arosio, Fernando Bermudez and Leonardo Torres.
The facts
Saab also reported that part of the plot is based on the officials proceeding “to carry out parallel oil operations” to those that were made in PDVSA through “crude loads on ships (…) without any kind of administrative control.”
In addition, “the payments corresponding to Petróleos de Venezuela were not complied with, there is the patrimonial damage,” said Saab who, when asked about the amount of the embezzlement, insisted that the investigation is in the first phase, however some media outlets of pro-government tendency, indicated that the amount is around 3,000 million dollars.
(Read also: The ship mafia: this is how the PDVSA corruption scheme worked)
At the press conference, the prosecutor showed a video in which members of the Anti-Corruption Police appeared seizing movable and immovable property. Helicopters, small planes, buildings and cash as part of the assets.
Since 2017, investigations have been carried out on Pdvsa, which, in addition to the 31 corruption schemes, leaves 194 detainees, according to the prosecutor.
ANA MARIA RODRIGUEZ BRAZON
WEATHER CORRESPONDENT
CARACAS
More news
Is Colombia interested in buying Monomers? Ambassador Benedetti responds
Venezuela’s oil minister resigns after corruption cases
#arrested #corruption #PDVSA #names #crimes