Message to INFODIO readers: investigative journalism, which is what this site does, takes lots of time. Visiting media looking for a quick run down on Venezuela's gargantuan corruption, have the decency to at least cite the source when plagiarising this site's content without attribution (exhibit Reuters here and here, exhibit Bloomberg here, exhibit OCCRP here). To all readers, do the right thing, the honest thing: support independent investigative journalism, help us expose rampant corruption. Note added 28/06/2021: impostors are using this site's former editor's full name, and a fake email address (alek.boyd.arregui@gmail.com) to send copyright infringement claims / take down requests to web hosting companies (exhibit Hostgator). The attempt is yet another effort paid by corrupt thugs to erase information about their criminal activities. Infodio.com has no issues with other websites / journalists using / posting information published here, so long as the source is properly cited.
The following is a report I was asked to write by the Organization of American States some time ago. It was meant to be part of a compendium of similar reports -from various authors- on the causes of Venezuela's humanitarian crisis: i.e. corruption. I publish it here, for future reference. Supporting notes and links can be seen in the pdf below.
Where Has Venezuela’s Money Gone?
By Alek Boyd
Some time ago we reported that Abraham Edgardo Ortega had pleaded guilty of accepting bribes in connection to a multi billion dollar money laundering scheme. It was reported yesterday that Ortega got sentenced to two years imprisonment. Ortega's sentence reveals, for the first time, Rafael Ramirez's direct involvement in various money laundering scandals centered at PDVSA.
The good thing about having followed Venezuelan politics very closely -for almost two decades- is that little of what chavismo does surprises. With respect to the "new electoral authorities", Nicolas Maduro may fool Bloomberg hacks, but not us. We know who Enrique Marquez and Roberto Picón are.
Bloomberg put this out yesterday: "Guaido approved the release of $152 million, of which about $100 million will be used to buy vaccines through the World Health Organization-backed Covax initiative or other organizations, according to a budget report approved by the National Assembly.
The latest bit of chatter is that Alex Saab's possible release from imprisonment in Cape Verde back to Venezuela is being used as leverage by President Joe Biden's administration to negotiate with Nicolas Maduro. President Biden, has to be said, inherited a clusterfuck of a situation with Venezuela created by Trump and co.
On 6th April at 17:19, I got a call from UK mobile 07493 741071. The caller, who identified himself as Argenis D'Arienzo, said he wanted to talk to me about Venezuela. Since I didn't know this person, had never heard of him before, I asked how he had obtained my number. D'Arienzo said his "good friend" Joaquin Chaffardet had given my number.
UPDATED 19/04/2021 - Early last December, the community managers / PR people retained by Alex Saab started directing targeted harassment against this site's editor on Twitter. In January, it got really aggressive. It may have to do with the fact that a Twitter account used to spread Saab's victimhood BS was shut down after we reported it. The way the harassment campaign works is dozens / hundreds Twitter accounts are created, with fake names and fake pictures.
When it comes to the chavista universe of the phenomenally corrupt, Alex Saab has a special place. The seat of honor has his name tag. A Colombian, who didn’t have two pennies to rub together only a decade ago, lands in Venezuela with narcosenator Piedad Córdoba, and in the space of 5 years becomes Nicolas Maduro and Cilia Flores' most trusted consigliere. Saab has put the entire class of Venezuelan Boligarchs to shame. Venezuela is his turf.
English
Español
