Luisa Ortega pledges to procure evidence of Maduro's involvement with corruption

Former Venezuelan Prosecutor-General Luisa Ortega Díaz said she will bring before Brazilian, Colombian and US authorities evidence of corruption targeting President Nicolás Maduro and associates. The statement was made Wednesday (Aug 23).

The documents, she said, connect the Venezuelan president to Spanish and Mexican companies that pocketed hundreds of millions of dollars stemming from corruption schemes.

Removed from office as prosecutor-general by Venezuela's Constitutional Assembly, Ortega said she has also found evidence of government officials' involvement with a Mexican company charged with food allowances sent to Venezuela. “This company is supposed to belong to Nicolás Maduro, despite being registered under the name of others,” she declared.

“There is no justice in Venezuela. The international community has to investigate cases like this,” she added.

She went on to state that she has received threats but has not made a decision as to whether she will apply for political asylum somewhere. “So far, Colombia is the only country that has offered me asylum, but I'm not sure if I'll accept it—there or in any other country.” The former prosecutor opposed any form of military action in her country. “That would be detrimental to the population.”

Brazil's Prosecutor-General Rodrigo Janot describes Ortega's removal as illegitimate and a “veritable institutional rape.” By subduing its Prosecution Service, Venezuela is availing itself of “no less than dictatorial power.” “We've witnessed an institutional rape against Venezuela's Prosecution Service,” he said. “Our neighbor is no longer in conditions to protect the fundamental rights of the victim and those charged,” he added, mentioning also that the case has been met with criticism from governments and prosecutors in neighboring countries.

Luísa Ortega was ousted on August 5 for “immoral acts.” A former chavism advocate, she became one of Maduro's main critics after the creation of the assembly and was considered an enemy of the government.

Translated by Fabrício Ferreira