Venezuela confirms arrest of ex-oil chief for ‘serious crimes’ – Wereldnieuws.nl

CARACAS – Venezuelan authorities have confirmed the arrest of former Oil Minister Pedro Tellechea on charges of committing “serious crimes” that threaten national interests, the Public Prosecutor’s Office announced on Monday.

Tellechea was taken into custody early Sunday morning after an “exhaustive scientific investigation,” an official statement said.

One of the indictments alleges that the former official was involved in “the supply of the automated control and command system” of state oil company Petroleos de Venezuela SA (PDVSA) to a company “controlled by the intelligence services” of the United States. The automated system, also called the ‘brain’ of PDVSA, plays a crucial role in business operations.

Tellechea also served as president of PDVSA from 2023 to 2024 and was appointed Minister of Industry and National Production in August this year, a position from which he was dismissed last Friday.