Wednesday, March 07, 2018
Source: Dinero
INVESTIGATION
In the case of Eulogio Del Pino, he will be charged with crimes such as fraud, conspiracy with contractors, failure to adhere to national security regulations, association, misuse of information systems, and damages to the oil industry. Meanwhile, Martínez faces charges of own fraud, conspiracy with public contractors, money laundering, and association.
Published: November 30, 2017
The Attorney General of the Republic, Tarek William Saab, announced the arrest of former Oil Ministers and ex-presidents of Petroleos de Venezuela (Pdvsa), Eulogio del Pino and Nelson Martínez, for allegedly engaging in corrupt activities within the hydrocarbon industry in the country.
Saab shared this information during a press conference held on Thursday, November 30, at the main headquarters of the Public Ministry in Caracas, where he stated that the ex-officials were detained early in the morning by agents of the General Directorate of Military Counterintelligence.
The top authority of the Public Ministry informed that both will be presented in the coming hours before the 10th and 3rd Control Courts of the Metropolitan Area of Caracas, respectively.
In the case of Eulogio del Pino, national prosecutors 63rd and 73rd will charge him with the crimes of fraud, conspiracy with contractors, failure to adhere to national security regulations, association, misuse of information systems, and damages to the oil sector.
On the other hand, Martínez will be charged by national prosecutor 55th with the crimes of own fraud, conspiracy with public contractors, money laundering, and association.
15 million barrels lost
The head of the criminal action in Venezuela stated that del Pino is involved in the investigated events at the joint venture Petrozamora, regarding the late transfer of oil fields that affected the strategic partner Gazprombank Latin America, causing a loss of 15 million barrels between 2015 and 2017, equivalent to 500 million dollars.
He added that del Pino is also under investigation for intentionally altering the audited production figures of crude oil between 2014 and 2017, while he was in the Executive Direction of Exploration and Production Oriente of Pdvsa, Punta de Mata Division.
Saab explained that Martínez is facing justice due to his alleged involvement in signing a debt refinancing contract for Citgo Petroleum Corporation without the approval of the National Executive and using the subsidiary as collateral, thereby compromising the Republic’s assets.
He revealed that Martínez had been mentioned by senior executives of Citgo who were arrested last week and indicated that the ex-president of Pdvsa was aware of the negotiations they undertook.
“We are dismantling a cartel of organized crime in our country’s oil industry,” stated Tarek William Saab, who emphasized that these judicial actions aim to purify Pdvsa and restore morality and ethics in the country.
New arrests
On Wednesday afternoon, November 29, he highlighted that 15 managers were arrested, allegedly related to sabotage at the Puerto Miranda terminal located in Zulia state, where a serious deterioration in the pumping and storage facilities for crude oil and fuel was determined. This implies the unlawful appropriation of materials, equipment, and oil.
The request for these arrests was made by the 44th prosecutor of Zulia before the 5th Control Court of the mentioned federal entity, extension Cabimas.
Among those arrested are David Cayama (Operational Coordination Manager of Pdvsa Occidente); Rafael Bracho (Maintenance Manager of Operational Coordination); Ronald Brices (Development and Optimization Manager of Operational Coordination), and Wilson Arteaga (Control and Quality Manager of Operational Coordination). Additionally, Jimmy Roque (ex-crude dispatch manager) and William Lander (ex-metarology manager) are on the run.
On another note, he informed that there are currently 16 pending arrest warrants against officials linked to irregularities in the national oil industry.
Some of these individuals are abroad, so international police cooperation is being sought for their capture, following a red alert request.
He added that other corruption schemes are being investigated, aimed at implode the oil industry and cause irreversible financial damage to Pdvsa. “I think this struggle will uplift the spirits of workers and patriotic managers, who are the majority, to ensure the necessary transformation,” he said.
He emphasized that it is a struggle for the economic and social rights of the people, to protect the human rights of Venezuelans.
He stressed that it aims to prevent these situations from continuing to occur, as when Venezuela suffers financial damage, it impacts productive sectors, workers, homemakers, farmers, students, and more.
“This should be seen as a fight for the human rights of the people that is just beginning, and we aspire to achieve results not only in the judicial aspect but also in the ethical and moral aspect so that this never happens again in the country,” he mentioned.
Whales and sharks
The Attorney General assured that up to now, 65 managers of Pdvsa have been deprived of their liberty, 16 of whom held high positions and are believed to have engaged in various corrupt acts. “For those asking when the big fish will be caught, we are talking about whales and sharks,” he mentioned.
Saab stated that the results in the fight against corruption in Pdvsa, Citgo, the Orinoco Oil Belt, the Currency Administration Commission, and the National Center for Foreign Trade reveal “a before and after” in this matter over the last 50 years.
“It is a very clear and unequivocal signal of where the system of justice in Venezuela is headed and how democracy has been strengthened, since it is a very serious fight that touches the interests of unscrupulous businessmen and officials who have stepped outside the law to cause harm to the national economy,” he pointed out.
Tags: Eulogio del Pino