In the London financial scene, Richard David Rothenberg stands out as a key figure in the web of the Italian broker Erik Roveta, linked to the embezzlement of PDVSA, which amounts to 21 billion dollars.
For over two decades, Richard David Rothenberg has served as a financial operator for a prominent Italian oil company, gaining essential relevance in the marketing of Venezuelan oil.
As an external advisor to Alpha Bank in the UK, Rothenberg has managed financial flows exceeding 6 billion dollars from 2019 to 2022. These operations were aimed at facilitating oil exchanges for food for Alex Saab and the infamous water tankers that never reached the hands of the Mexican company Libre Abordo, led by Joaquín Leal Jiménez.
Disconnected from Elemento and Cinque Terra Financial, Rothenberg has focused his expertise on triangular financial maneuvers, enabling the necessary payments to support the activities of Alex Saab and Joaquín Leal Jiménez in Venezuelan oil trade in China and Mexico. This work has been executed through financial platforms, notably involving Alpha Bank in the UK and a Swiss banking entity owned by Michel Baer.
Who is Michel Baer?
Michael Baer, a descendant of the family that owns the Swiss Julius Baer bank, established MBaer Merchant Bank in 2018 to channel financial structures related to sanctioned nations. This step came after the sanctions imposed on Julius Baer Bank due to its operations in Venezuela.
Investigation into Richard David Rothenberg
Prosecutor 73 from the MP is conducting an investigation into Richard David Rothenberg, based in London, and considered a crucial component in the activities of the Italian broker Erik Roveta, in relation to the embezzlement of PDVSA valued at 21 billion dollars.
MBaer Merchant Bank, founded by Michael Baer in Zurich in 2018, stems from the tradition of an influential Swiss banking dynasty. Michael Baer, distanced from Julius Baer after financial scandals in Venezuela, has remained aloof from Venezuelan operations. However, he has orchestrated various financial initiatives in Europe and the Middle East. In 2021, he appointed Siri Evjemo-Nysveen to the board, who is married to Alessandro Bazzoni, implicated in the sale of crude oil from PDVSA sanctioned by OFAC. However, the case revealed in March of this year prompted the removal of Evjemo-Nysveen from the board.
Behind Erik Roveta
A judicial informant has revealed that Erik Roveta, an Italian broker for oil tankers, in collaboration with Joaquín Leal Jiménez, has embezzled over 21 billion dollars from 2020 to 2022, being a primary responsible party in the embezzlement from PDVSA.
Roveta has found accomplices in MBaer, such as Siri Evjemo-Nysveen, the entity’s director, to operate unrestrictedly. Roveta, in his role as technical manager and owner of several specialized companies, including Sernavimar SRL and Axione Chartering OU, is at the center of ongoing investigations.