Venezuelan Prosecution Issues Arrest Warrant Against Juan Guaidó and Requests Interpol Red Alert
Venezuela accuses Guaidó of money laundering, treason and embezzlement of public funds. The prosecutor estimates losses of 19 billion dollars.
Venezuela Requests Interpol Capture of Juan Guaidó for Financial Crimes and Treason
The Office of the Attorney General of Venezuela issued an arrest warrant against Juan Guaidó, former president of the Venezuelan Parliament currently in exile in the United States, announced on Thursday by Attorney General Tarek William Saab. Three prosecutors assigned to the case will present "the respective request for a red alert to Interpol so that this individual pays for these crimes", according to Saab's statement.
According to rtve.es, Guaidó faces charges of money laundering, treason, usurpation of functions, misappropriation of public assets and criminal association. The prosecutor estimates at 19 billion dollars—approximately 18.012 billion euros—the amount allegedly embezzled from the Venezuelan State. "Using the figure of a fictitious government, he caused losses to the Venezuelan State", Saab stated.
Guaidó headed the so-called "interim government" of Venezuela, recognised by the United States and other countries between January 2019 and late 2022. Saab also cited a "sentence" from a United States court which, according to the prosecutor, indicates that Guaidó "has accessed the assets of Pdvsa subsidiaries in the United States and used them to finance himself". On this basis, the Public Ministry hopes that, "through international criminal cooperation, this individual will be handed over to" the Caribbean country.
The body had opened 23 prior investigations against Guaidó for alleged crimes committed during the "interim government", in addition to another five cases related to a Venezuelan company in Colombia. However, until this date it had not formalised any arrest warrant against him.
The opposition figure did not directly respond to the accusations, although he shared an article on social media about the "defence" of Citgo, a Pdvsa subsidiary in the United States, during his period heading the interim administration.
Source: Google News CU — Crime