CARACAS: Tareck El Aissami, Venezuela’s oil minister, resigned Monday after prosecutors launched a corruption investigation against officials at the state oil company PDVSA.
Anti-corruption police on Sunday arrested 2 people closely linked to El Aissami, high PDVSA official Antonio Perez Suarez and another Joselit Ramirez, who controls oil industry funds through cryptocurrencies.
El Aissami wrote on Twitter that he has decided to step down given the investigation into the serious acts of corruption in the state oil company. The minister said that he wanted to support the process.
Oil minister claims supporting crusade against corruption
El Aissami, who had been in the ministry since April 2020, said that he backed the “crusade” against corruption.
The national police force said that authorities have been investigating high-ranking officials who could be involved in embezzlement and corruption.
Member of parliament Hugbel Roa was among those arrested, alongside a renowned lawyer, a mayor, and an anti-terrorism judge.
