Page 25 - ARUBA AIR

A12 WORLD NEWS
Friday 1 december 2017

Venezuela arrests top oil officials in corruption probe

“I hope this revolution gives la’s foreign currency earn-
me the right to a legitimate ings.Specifically, Saab ac-
defense,” he said in the cused Martinez of acting
outdoor recording as birds improperly and against
chirped in the background. Venezuela’s national in-
Saab said the arrests fulfill a terests by negotiating a
government pledge to as- debt-financing deal when
sure Venezuela’s vast oil he headed PDVSA subsid-
wealth is spent on the poor iary Citgo that offered part
and isn’t pilfered by cor- ownership of the Houston-
rupt officials with mansions based company subsidiary
and yachts in the U.S. While as collateral.Del Pino al-
corruption in the coun- legedly profited from and
try sitting atop the world’s helped doctor production
largest oil reserves has long figures in a joint Russian-
been rampant, officials are Venezuelan oil field. Saab
rarely held accountable — said the alleged scam
a major irritant to Venezu- deprived the Venezuelan
elans now struggling to eat state of more than $500
three meals a day amid million in revenue between
widespread shortages and 2015 and 2017.Both men
triple-digit inflation. are also proteges of former
“This shouldn’t be seen oil czar Rafael Ramirez,
as an isolated act,” said who headed PDVSA and
In this Nov. 30, 2016 photo, Venezuela’s Minister of Petroleum and Mining Eulogio Del Pino speaks Saab, adding that 15 other served as oil minister for a
to journalists in Vienna, Austria. Venezuelan authorities said Thursday, Nov. 30, 2017, that they’ve PDVSA managers and of-
arrested Del Pino in a widening corruption probe into the state-run oil industry. decade until becoming
(AP Photo/Ronald Zak) ficials tied to the oil probe Venezuela’s ambassador
By JORGE RUEDA nez, ex-president of state footage of the arrests was had been arrested in the to the United Nations in
JOSHUA GOODMAN oil company PDVSA, were broadcast on state TV. In past 24 hours and a total 2014.In a rare display of di-
Associated Press arrested just four days af- one sequence, military in- of 65 since August. They in- visions in the ruling socialist
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) ter being removed by telligence agents wear- clude six executives of PD- party, Ramirez has increas-
— Venezuelan authorities Maduro in a surprise cabi- ing ski masks with assault VSA’s Houston-based sub- ingly spoken out against
on Thursday arrested two net shake-up. Both are ac- rifles drawn knock on the sidiary Citgo, five of whom Maduro’s handling of the
former top officials in a cused of embezzling state residence of Del Pino, who hold American passports. economy, even while star-
widening corruption probe funds, conspiracy and calmly opens the door and “What we’re doing will ing down public attacks
into the state-run oil indus- money laundering among consents to being hand- boost the people’s mo- from prominent govern-
try that some see as an at- other charges, Tarek Wil- cuffed while dressed in a rale,” he added.Del Pino ment loyalists. On Wednes-
tempt by President Nico- liam Saab, who took over jersey of Venezuela’s na- and Martinez, both U.S.-ed- day, he was reportedly
las Maduro to consolidate as chief prosecutor follow- tional soccer team.In a pre- ucated industry veterans, fired from his U.N. post, al-
power within his socialist ing the ousting of one of recorded video released were replaced Sunday though nobody in the gov-
party ahead of next year’s Maduro’s top critics, said on social media after his by a high-ranking general ernment has confirmed his
presidential elections. at a press conference in arrest, Del Pino said he was with no experience in an oil dismissal.
Former Oil Minister Eulogio Caracas. the victim of an unjustified industry that’s the source The mission’s office said he
del Pino and Nestor Marti- As Saab was speaking, attack. of virtually all of Venezue- could not be reached for
Venezuelan airline barred from European Union skies comment and the U.N. said
Thursday it hadn’t been
notified of any change in
CARACAS, Venezuela within the union because for suspending service. in America and to Miami, Venezuela’s representa-
(AP) — Venezuela’s Avior the European Aviation An Avior flight made an Florida, and lists an office lo- tion.
Airlines has been banned Safety Agency detect- emergency landing in Ec- cation in Madrid on its web- “I’m disappointed that no
from European Union skies ed “unaddressed safety uador earlier this month site.The airline is certified type of constructive criti-
after a commission deter- deficiencies.”No further after passengers described under U.S. federal aviation cism is allowed, and also
mined it no longer meets details were provided. seeing fire and smelling regulations and Venezuela the fact that some com-
international safety stan- The Venezuelan airline is smoke. Videos posted on remains in good standing rades who know me well
dards, another blow to one of a handful still of- social media showed ner- with the International Avia- are victims of the right-
troubled nation’s already fering international flight vous passengers wearing tion Safety Assessment, the wing’s manipulations,” he
beleaguered flight industry. destinations as major car- deployed oxygen masks. Federal Aviation Admin- wrote in an essay titled
The European Commission riers like United and Delta “We thought it was our final istration’s program to de- “Stepping Firmly: Is it ethi-
announced Thursday that halt operations in the crisis- moments,” one passenger termine whether foreign cal to remain silent?” pub-
Avior had been added to ridden nation. Air carriers said. countries provide sufficient lished Sunday on the Apor-
a list of international air- have cited financial and Avior operates flights within safety and oversight of air- rea website, a forum for
lines prohibited from flying safety concerns as reasons Venezuela, throughout Lat- lines that fly to the U.S.q
Venezuelan leftists.q