Venezuela sentenced six executives of American oil companies to prison for up to 13 years.
November 27th – Associated Press reported on the 26th local time that a Venezuelan judge convicted six executives of American oil companies of corruption and sentenced them to immediate imprisonment.
According to ABC, five people were sentenced to 8 years and 10 months in prison, and one person was sentenced to 13 years in prison. Its defense lawyer Jesus Loreto said that five executives with lighter sentences may be released on parole in a few years.
The Associated Press previously reported that six U.S. executives were earlier summoned to Venezuelan oil headquarters (PDVSA) to investigate the 2017 budget meeting.
They were accused of embezzlement to refinance about $4 billion of Citgo Oil’s bonds in exchange for 50% of the company’s shares.
At that time, Maduro accused them of “treason”, but neither of them pleaded guilty.
It is reported that they are now American citizens and have been imprisoned in Venezuela for three years.
Earlier, Venezuela’s Attorney General’s Office said in a statement that investigators found conclusive evidence that the financial crime was harmful to the oil company.
The statement also reads: “All the proceedings in the Venezuelan criminal proceedings are carried out normally.”
