Brasília: Venezuela’s fugitive former top prosecutor resurfaced in Brazil on Wednesday claiming to possess “a lot” of proof of President Nicolas Maduro’s corruption and to warn that her life remains in danger.
Days after a dramatic escape from chaotic Venezuela, Luisa Ortega, 59, turned up the heat on Maduro, who in turn asked Interpol to put out a “red notice” arrest warrant for his critic.
Ortega — speaking at a crime-fighting conference in the Brazilian capital with representatives from the Latin American regional trading alliance Mercosur — said Maduro enriched himself in a massive corruption scheme uncovered at Brazilian construction conglomerate Odebrecht.
“I have a lot of proof, concretely in the Odebrecht case, which implicates many high ranking Venezuelans, starting with the president of the republic,” she said.
“The rule of law has died” under Maduro, she said.
Ortega, who fled Venezuela with her husband German Ferrer last Friday and flew into Brasilia from Panama late on Tuesday, said she was still in danger.
“I have received threats that there may be an attempt against my life and I hold the Venezuelan government responsible if this happens,” she told the conference.
Brazil’s prosecutor general said in a statement that he had personally invited Ortega.
On Tuesday, Maduro said Ortega and Ferrer had committed “serious crimes” and should be apprehended. Ferrer is accused by Maduro’s government of corruption and extortion.
— AFP
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