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Venezuela to investigate ex-oil tsar over corruption Venezuela to investigate ex-oil tsar over corruption
(about 13 hours later)
The Venezuela authorities say they are opening a corruption investigation into one of the country's most influential political figures, the former oil minister Rafael Ramirez. The Venezuela authorities say they are opening a corruption investigation into one of the country's most influential political figures, the former oil minister Rafael Ramírez.
Mr Ramirez ran the state oil company, PDVSA, for 12 years until 2014. Mr Ramírez ran the state oil company, PDVSA, for 12 years until 2014.
Last week he was sacked from his post as ambassador to the UN, and left the US for an undisclosed third country.Last week he was sacked from his post as ambassador to the UN, and left the US for an undisclosed third country.
He has been tipped as a potential presidential candidate in next year's elections. He denies any wrongdoing.He has been tipped as a potential presidential candidate in next year's elections. He denies any wrongdoing.
"We have decided to open a criminal investigation of Rafael Ramirez, ex oil minister and ex president of PDVSA," said Chief Prosecutor Tarek Saab in a televised address. "We have decided to open a criminal investigation of Rafael Ramírez, ex oil minister and ex president of PDVSA," said Chief Prosecutor Tarek Saab in a televised address.
He said the Panama Papers, leaked last year, held compromising information about Mr Ramirez and his cousin Diego Salazar, who was arrested this month. He said the Panama Papers, leaked last year, held compromising information about Mr Ramírez and his cousin Diego Salazar, who was arrested this month.
The investigation into Mr Ramirez's activities appears to be part of a corruption purge at PDVSA. Sixty-five people have been arrested there for corruption in the last few months. The investigation into Mr Ramírez's activities appears to be part of a corruption purge at PDVSA. Sixty-five people have been arrested there for alleged corruption in the last few months.
In recent weeks, Rafael Ramirez publically criticised the current administration's handling of Venezuela's deep economic crisis saying he had anticipated it but was ignored. In recent weeks, Rafael Ramírez publically criticised the current administration's handling of Venezuela's deep economic crisis saying he had anticipated it but was ignored.
In a newspaper, he wrote: "I am disappointed that no kind of constructive criticism is allowed.In a newspaper, he wrote: "I am disappointed that no kind of constructive criticism is allowed.
"Is it ethical to remain silent?""Is it ethical to remain silent?"
Between 2004 and 2014 Mr Ramirez became the most visible face of Venezuela's late socialist leader Hugo Chavez's oil sector nationalizations which boosted state control over the industry. Between 2004 and 2014 Mr Ramírez became the most visible face of Venezuela's late socialist leader Hugo Chávez's oil sector nationalizations which boosted state control over the industry.
The oil bonanza of that period largely financed the social programmes that cemented Mr Chavez's power. The oil bonanza of that period largely financed the social programmes that cemented Mr Chávez's power.
Mr Ramirez was very close to Mr Chavez and was on hand in the last moments before he died. Mr Ramírez was very close to Mr Chávez and was on hand in the last moments before he died.
But he clashed with Mr Chavez's appointed successor, Nicolás Maduro, and was named foreign minister and then sent to New York as a United Nations ambassador. But he clashed with Mr Chávez's successor, Nicolás Maduro, and was named foreign minister and then sent to New York as a United Nations ambassador.
There his profile was lowered, although he vehemently defended Venezuela in the UN from what the Maduro administration considered "attacks" led by the US.There his profile was lowered, although he vehemently defended Venezuela in the UN from what the Maduro administration considered "attacks" led by the US.