Venezuela arrests nine officials amid corruption probe

Nine officials from the state-owned metals conglomerate Corporación Venezolana de Guayana (CVG) were arrested amid a corruption probe, the country’s attorney general Tarek Saab announced on Sunday. 

The Venezuelan government began investigations into CVG and its steel-maker subsidiary Sidor on Friday. CVG is a conglomerate of state-owned mining, forestry, and electricity companies, among others, located in the state of Bolivar, in southern Venezuela.

The presidents of CVG and Sidor, Pedro Maldonado and Nestor Astudillo, were placed under arrest because they “could be involved in serious acts of administrative corruption and embezzlement of funds,” according to the Venezuelan National Police. The others arrested include four company vice presidents and three managers, Saad said on Twitter. 

The arrests come as the Venezuelan regime has been investigating irregularities and alleged corruption cases in different branches of government connected to “strategic sectors,” including the state oil company PDVSA. 

So far 42 people have been arrested throughout the country as part of the corruption probe, Saab posted on Twitter on Saturday. He did not give more details about the arrests. Last week, 21 individuals, including officials, politicians, and businessmen, were arrested for alleged corruption. More officials are expected to be arrested in the following weeks. 

Amid the arrest scandals, Venezuelan oil minister Tareck El Aissami resigned after six officials from PDVSA were arrested, including Colonel Antonio Perez, former vice president in charge of commerce and supply at PDVSA, and Colonel Samuel Testamarck, general manager of PDVSA’s maritime arm PDV Marina. According to a source, the arrests are connected to an investigation into oil cargoes leaving the South American country without making proper payments.