Venezuela corruption probe nets 42 officials

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
2 Apr 2023 10:37
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Authorities crack down on officials who "could be involved in serious acts of corruption and embezzlement."

Venezuelan Attorney General Tarek William Saab holds a news conference about corruption cases with the state-run oil company, PDVSA, in Caracas, Venezuela, Saturday, March 25, 2023. (AP)

The Venezuelan prosecutor's office announced on Saturday that more than 40 people have been detained in Venezuela as part of an anti-corruption operation involving the state oil company PDVSA and other relevant government agencies.

The anti-corruption police issued a communique on March 17 calling for the prosecution of officials who "could be involved in serious acts of corruption and embezzlement." This sparked the start of the crackdown.

The nation's influential oil minister, Tareck El Aissami, resigned as a result of the corruption investigation, and other public officials as well as PDVSA officials have been the target of the anti-corruption campaign.

Attorney General Tarek William Saab announced on Twitter that the prosecutor's office has so far detained "42 subjects linked to various corruption schemes that have sought to embezzle... the national economy."

#JUSTICIA… a la fecha el @MinpublicoVEN logró -junto a los órganos auxiliares- la #DETENCIÓN de 42 sujetos #vinculados a las diversas tramas de #Corrupción q buscaron #desfalcar ( en su inmoralidad delictiva) a la #economía nacional dañando a la
comunidad en general #MaximaPena.
— Tarek William Saab (@TarekWiliamSaab) April 2, 2023

In addition, Pedro Maldonado, president of the state-owned Corporacion Venezolana Guayana, and representatives of the metals company SIDOR were recently detained in a high-profile incident.

The prosecutor stated at a March 25 conference that the officials were accused of appropriating public funds, money laundering, buying influence, and treason.

According to judicial sources, Maldonado, a former director of the Central Bank of Venezuela (BCV), participated in a corruption scheme that was headed by former lawmaker Hugbel Roa, according to AFP.

One of the detainees, Roa, who was arrested in this month's crackdown -- was for years an important leader of the ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela.

El Aissami, who is subject to US sanctions, is a member of the ruling party, and has previously held the positions of interior and industry minister, as well as vice president of Venezuela. The amount embezzled so far has not been disclosed, but press reports place it at a minimum of $3 billion.