Featured image: Venezuela's Attorney General, Tarek William Saab. File photo.
Earlier today the Attorney General of Venezuela, Tarek William Saab announced the dismantling of a corruption scheme at Lácteos Los Andes CA, a public enterprise in the dairy industry, carried out by the president of the company, Colonel Luis Augusto Piligra Jiménez.
During a press conference, Saab indicated that the Public Ministry (MP) together with the General Directorate of Military Counterintelligence (DGCIM ) pursued an investigation following complaints about irregularities within the company.
The prosecutor announced the arrest of the president of Lácteos Los Andes, Colonel Luis Augusto Piligra Jiménez, and his partner, Amelys Aracely Cabrera Gómez, accused of intentional embezzlement, entering into illegal agreement with a public official, evasion of bidding procedures, money laundering, and criminal association.
“This is a company (Lácteos Los Andes) of strategic importance for the country, it is involved with food, a human right for the people, in this case, boys, girls, adolescents, the elderly, etc.” the prosecutor emphasized.
Corruption in Lácteos Los Andes
Colonel Luis Augusto Piligra Jiménez served as president of the company since August 30, 2019.
An investigation of illicit enrichment began weeks ago because he came into the possession of various valuable assets.
“Yachts, planes, high-end vehicles, luxury apartments, farms in different parts of the country, that were obviously ill-gotten goods, are being seized as established with the Anti-Corruption Law by the competent bodies,” Saab explained.
Likewise, a network of ghost companies was detected in which friends, relatives, and lovers of Piligra appeared as legal representatives and shareholders.
Tarek William Saab: Resulta aborrecible que funcionarios nombrados para ejercer cargos estratégicos, con el fin de generar beneficios al pueblo y minimizar las consecuencias de las sanciones, se dediquen a deliquir
— Ministerio Público venezolano (@MinpublicoVEN) May 14, 2021
Key facts
The investigations determined that he entered into contracts with companies owned by his relatives, which were registered in record time, to supply inputs for production at Lácteos Los Andes, but that they were billed at a premium.
• The AA Hidalgo & Urdaneta CA Corporation was in charge of supplying supplies for manufacturing, safety materials, uniforms, footwear, chemicals, transportation, spare parts for machinery, vehicles, batteries, oils and rubbers, among others. His brother Pedro Pablo Álvarez Jiménez appears as legal representative of this company.
• Novedades Miguel García 2019 CA supplied stationery and office supplies to Lácteos Los Andes, and was owned by Laura Yelitza Álvarez (Piligra’s sister) and Amelys Aracely Cabrera Gómez (Piligra’s partner).
• The Fonda de Helenmar CA, which was transferred to Amelys Aracely Cabrera Gómez, supplied food.
• La Fonda de Helenmar CA in conjunction with the company Comercializadora Hermanos Correia, the latter owned by Luis Piligra, together operated a gourmet restaurant and bodegón (grocery store) in the Chacao municipality, Miranda state. In the bodegón, domestic and imported products were sold including Lácteos Los Andes and Villa La Estancia dairy products.
The prosecutor indicated that the colonel also owns the Villa La Estancia company, which makes powdered milk packaged within the Lácteos los Andes plant; and it is presumed that it used the raw material for its production and promotion of the brand.
Tarek William Saab: Tengamos claro que cuando las personas violan todas las reglas de convivencia sin temor a las consecuencias, estamos hablando de un psicópata
— Ministerio Público venezolano (@MinpublicoVEN) May 14, 2021
In addition Piligra owns a herd of cattle in Apure, which bears the same name as Villa La Estancia, and an agricultural farm that operates within the ranch, MALUGA CA.
“Let’s be clear that when people violate all the rules of coexistence without fear of consequences, we are talking about a psychopath,” wrote Saab in a tweet.
Saab stated that investigations are continuing therefore new arrests cannot be ruled out, and in the next few days sentencing will be announced. Saab also described as “abhorrent, that officials appointed to hold strategic positions entrusted with generating benefits for the people and minimizing the consequences of sanctions, engage in crime and corruption.”
Featured image: Venezuela’s Attorney General, Tarek William Saab. File photo.
(RedRadioVE) by Ana Perdigon
Translation: Orinoco Tribune
OT/JRE/SL
