The Venezuelan Prosecutor’s Office says that there are 51 detainees for corruption plots, and avoids answering if there is a case against Tareck El Aissami

( Spanish) — The Venezuelan Attorney General, Tarek William Saab, reported this Wednesday that there are already 51 people arrested in the investigation of alleged corruption schemes in the public sector. Of this number, 34 of the detainees would be related to the case called PDVSA-Cripto that involves the state-owned Petróleos de Venezuela, the official said at a press conference.

Saab warned that there will be more detainees because the people apprehended are providing additional information for the investigation, which was also extended to the Venezuelan Corporation of Guayana (CVG) and basic companies, mainly in the steel industry. He specified that this morning the hearing for the presentation of a group of detainees ended.

Saab responded that he would not comment on “future, upcoming ongoing investigations” when asked by a local media journalist whether former Oil Minister Tareck El Aissami will be investigated. The former official resigned on March 20, shortly after the start of an investigation into the Venezuelan state oil company was announced. The head of the Public Ministry added that he “does not want to provide information about any particular name.”

The investigation was announced on Friday, March 17, by the National Anti-Corruption Police. Among the people detained so far are judges, a mayor, a deputy, PDVSA officials, private businessmen, directors of the CVG, the Siderúrgica del Orinoco and Cartones de Venezuela, among others.