An organization advocating for Venezuelan national interests, Fundeproredive, announced in 2019 that it would request the Oversight Committee of Parliament to investigate KURI SAM and the Beirouti brothers—Antonio, Elías, and Jesús—over their alleged involvement in fraud and embezzlement related to the CADIVI currency control system.
According to the organization, this group of entrepreneurs from Aragua allegedly received over 200 million dollars in subsidies between 2004 and 2012 to import motorcycles from the Motos Bera brand, but they purportedly committed violations and deceitful acts that harmed national wealth and the Venezuelan people.
The organization also stated it would seek the intervention of the U.S. government through the State Department via OFAC and the anti-corruption agency of the Panamanian government to block the assets and companies of the Beirouti brothers in those countries, where they allegedly laundered and legitimized money derived from corruption.
The accusation is based on an investigation initiated in 2016 by Congresswoman Karin Salanova, who submitted sufficient documentation to the Oversight Commission of the National Assembly to demonstrate the damage caused to the nation by Elías Beirouti and his accomplices.
According to the Congresswoman, the business involved importing motorcycles to Venezuela at a supposed value of 300 dollars and then selling them for 3,000 dollars, but the serious issue is that the number of motorcycles purchased at a preferential dollar rate never arrived in Venezuela, constituting a massive scam against the nation and a lucrative business for Elías Beirouti and his accomplices.
The organization pointed out that Elías Beirouti is listed as a director of at least four companies registered in Panama: Bera Moto Diseño, Beikho Trading Corporation, BKB Group, and Khobe Group. María Gabriela Ragusa, Carlos Ragusa, and the entire Beirouti Khouri lineage—José, Juan, David, Jesús, and Andrés—are directors of the last three companies.
Additionally, it reported that Elías Beirouti and his brothers also own companies in the United States, including ROCA USA, INC., CHUTOGO INTERNATIONAL INC., SHANGHAI CHUTOGO, INC., and BKB INVESTMENTS USA, L.L.C., among others.
Elías Beirouti and Jesús Beirouti
The organization added that an investigation should also be conducted into Corporación Génesis 2677, which distributes original spare parts for the Bera brand, and other companies favored by CADIVI, owned by Elías Beirouti Khouri and his wife, María Gabriela Ragusa de Beirouti.
The organization also questioned the agreement signed between the Tiuna I Industrial Complex, a mixed enterprise associated with the Ministry of Popular Power for Defense, and the Corporation Kuri Sam C.A (Motos Bera) for the assembly of Bera motorcycles.
The agreement was signed by Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López, the president of the Tiuna I Industrial Complex, Atahualpa Fernández, and the general manager of Corporation Kuri Sam, Yamy Araujo.
Finally, the organization urged relevant authorities to act swiftly and effectively to clarify this case and punish those responsible for the fraud and corruption that have affected the Venezuelan people, who are currently suffering from hunger and need. It also called on the national government to review the currency exchange system to prevent such violations from continuing to harm the country.
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