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| Venezuela ex-prosecutor: I have proof of Maduro corruption | Venezuela ex-prosecutor: I have proof of Maduro corruption |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Venezuela's dismissed chief prosecutor says she has proof of corruption within the top leadership, including evidence against President Nicolás Maduro. | |
| Luisa Ortega Diaz also accused two party leaders and the new prosecutor. | Luisa Ortega Diaz also accused two party leaders and the new prosecutor. |
| Ms Ortega, who fled Venezuela last week after she was sacked and her husband charged with extortion, says her life is still in danger. | Ms Ortega, who fled Venezuela last week after she was sacked and her husband charged with extortion, says her life is still in danger. |
| She faces charges of misconduct, amid allegations she ignored corruption cases sent to her while in office. | She faces charges of misconduct, amid allegations she ignored corruption cases sent to her while in office. |
| The ex-prosecutor's latest comments came at a press conference in the Brazilian capital, where she alleged that President Maduro had been involved in a bribery scheme centred on the Brazilian construction giant, Odebrecht. | The ex-prosecutor's latest comments came at a press conference in the Brazilian capital, where she alleged that President Maduro had been involved in a bribery scheme centred on the Brazilian construction giant, Odebrecht. |
| "I want to denounce, in front of the world, a grave situation in Venezuela: that of excessive corruption," Ms Ortega said. | "I want to denounce, in front of the world, a grave situation in Venezuela: that of excessive corruption," Ms Ortega said. |
| "I have a lot of proof, concretely in the Odebrecht case, which implicates many high-ranking Venezuelans, starting with the president of the republic." | "I have a lot of proof, concretely in the Odebrecht case, which implicates many high-ranking Venezuelans, starting with the president of the republic." |
| She implicated the vice-president of the governing PSUV party, Diosdado Cabello, and party leader Jorge Rodriquez in the Odebrecht case. | She implicated the vice-president of the governing PSUV party, Diosdado Cabello, and party leader Jorge Rodriquez in the Odebrecht case. |
| She also accused the new Venezuelan prosecutor, Tarek Saab, of corruption related to the country's state oil company, PDVSA. | |
| But Mr Saab has dismissed her allegations, saying: "There is no validity in what an ex-prosecutor can say after ten years of inaction against any of the people she is talking about now." | But Mr Saab has dismissed her allegations, saying: "There is no validity in what an ex-prosecutor can say after ten years of inaction against any of the people she is talking about now." |
| There has been no response yet from Odebrecht, which has been at the centre of a huge investigation in Brazil over kickbacks for contracts. | There has been no response yet from Odebrecht, which has been at the centre of a huge investigation in Brazil over kickbacks for contracts. |
| The investigation has led to prosecutions in several countries in Latin America where Odebrecht and other Brazilian construction companies operated. | The investigation has led to prosecutions in several countries in Latin America where Odebrecht and other Brazilian construction companies operated. |
| On Tuesday, President Nicolas Maduro said he would request an international arrest warrant against Ms Ortega and her husband, former loyalist congressman Germán Ferrer. | On Tuesday, President Nicolas Maduro said he would request an international arrest warrant against Ms Ortega and her husband, former loyalist congressman Germán Ferrer. |
| Mr Maduro said both were working with the United States against his government and had committed serious crimes. | Mr Maduro said both were working with the United States against his government and had committed serious crimes. |
| Venezuela's controversial new constituent assembly sacked her for misconduct, with President Maduro saying she had ignored corruption cases sent to her by the government. | Venezuela's controversial new constituent assembly sacked her for misconduct, with President Maduro saying she had ignored corruption cases sent to her by the government. |
| Mr Ferrer is accused of extortion and corruption allegedly happening within the office of the chief prosecutor. | Mr Ferrer is accused of extortion and corruption allegedly happening within the office of the chief prosecutor. |
| Ms Ortega has said she fears for her life and wants to hand over the documents she is carrying to other countries so they can investigate her allegations. | Ms Ortega has said she fears for her life and wants to hand over the documents she is carrying to other countries so they can investigate her allegations. |
| "The most serious thing," she said, "is that everything is connected to corruption. Everything that has happened to me is because of a series of allegations I have made." | "The most serious thing," she said, "is that everything is connected to corruption. Everything that has happened to me is because of a series of allegations I have made." |
| Officials in Colombia who offered her asylum and protection have suggested that Ms Ortega and her husband will seek asylum in the United States. | Officials in Colombia who offered her asylum and protection have suggested that Ms Ortega and her husband will seek asylum in the United States. |
| Why is Venezuela in crisis? | |
| Inside the anti-government protests |