1 of 1 Tareck El Aissami, who has resigned as Venezuela’s oil minister — Photo: Portal/Leonardo Fernandez Viloria Tareck El Aissami, who has resigned as Venezuela’s oil minister — Photo: Portal/Leonardo Fernandez Viloria
Venezuela’s Oil Minister Tareck El Aissami announced on Monday (20) that he was stepping down from his post and at least six officials were arrested by police following investigations into corruption, including at the stateowned company Petróleos de Venezuela (PDVSA).
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“In view of the opened investigations into serious corruption cases at PDVSA, I have made the decision to submit my resignation as Minister of Petroleum with the intention of fully overseeing and assisting this process,” said El Aissami, who had previously been the minister since 2020, it said Twitter. .
Venezuela’s anticorruption police have arrested a mayor, two judges and three government officials, at least two of whom are linked to PDVSA, state television and sources familiar with the matter, reported Monday.
Jailing of government officials for corruption is rare in Venezuela, a country described by rights groups like Transparency International as lacking in transparency.
El Aissami has been under US sanctions since 2017 for alleged links to drug trafficking, which he denies.
According to sources familiar with the case, among those arrested are Colonel Antonio Perez, a former vice president in charge of commerce and supplies at PDVSA, and Colonel Samuel Testamarck, general manager of PDVSA’s maritime arm, PDV Marina.