The conspiracy, called Pdvsa-Cripto in allusion to the state-owned company Petróleos de Venezuela and the National Superintendence of Crypto-assets (Sunacrip), the main parties involved, was revealed in a press conference by the head of the Public Prosecutor’s Office.

Saab informed about the implication -so far- of 10 State officials and 11 businessmen -now detained-, and 11 other persons from the private sector for whom arrest warrants were issued due to their links with the facts, which were rejected by the majority of the Venezuelan society.

Perhaps the word ‘scabrous’ used has to do with one of its meanings, referring to the ‘difficult and immoral’, due to some revelations published later in the local press, which spoke of a prostitution network in which some models are involved.

In this network is allegedly involved the now ex deputy Hugbel Roa, who used a residence in the state of Miranda to have big parties ‘with prepaid girls’ and where the entrance was without clothes, according to Últimas Noticias newspaper, which quoted witnesses as sources.

As detailed by the Attorney General, this conspiracy involves officials, businessmen, busineswomen and young men and women who were captured for asset laundering and rewarded their criminal actions with an excessive, sumptuous, illegal and criminal life, he commented.

The detainees were charged with appropriation or distraction of public patrimony, money laundering and association, influence peddling, among other crimes, and the officials will be charged with treason.

Likewise, the authorities arrested a mayor for his links with organized crime, two judges and a lawyer, who took advantage of their positions to grant judicial benefits, for which they will be prosecuted for delay or intentional omission of functions and association to commit crimes.

mh/abc/jcd