Doménica de Pinto denies her arrest in Bogotá

Doménica de Pinto Chimienti denied this week that she was arrested on September 14 in Bogotá, Colombiaby officials of the International Criminal Police Organization Interpol for its alleged connection with a case of embezzlement of millions of dollars against the Venezuelan state-owned PDVSA.

In a letter sent to The NationalDe Pinto denied the information that was published in the media both in South Florida, United States, and in Venezuela, in which it was stated that both she and her brother Francisco de Pinto Chimienti had embezzled 10 million from the Venezuelan State. of dollars for the manufacture of plastic gas cylinders.

«I have not been detained or arrested in Bogotá or anywhere else. While this false information was circulating, I was working, during my work hours, in an occupation that enjoys the appreciation and recognition of the community in the United States, where I have resided since 2018,” he indicated.

She also assured that at no time was she an official of Petróleos de Venezuela (Pdvsa) or any other public company in Venezuela.

The information that circulated in the media stated that through their company Gavenplast CA, the De Pinto brothers requested loans from different institutions such as Bancoex, Pdvsa, Pdvsa Gas, Bandes and Banco de Venezuela to allegedly start a project to improve gas distribution in the country through the implementation of plastic cylinderswhich were safer and would be produced in the country.

Supposedly said credits granted since 2017 were not canceled, and in turn, there is no evidence of the production of the aforementioned cylinders.

About this, Doménica de Pinto said: »My participation as deputy president at Gavenplast was merely symbolic, as in any family business. In my role as deputy, I did not participate or sign in any commercial, banking or any other negotiation on behalf of the company, and I have not held that or any position in the company since 2018. That same year, I sold my participation shares minority.

«I have recently been informed by my brother Francisco that Gavenplast maintains a bank debt with Bancoex derived from a loanwhere a process is underway between the company and the bank, for the restructuring of the financing received, the initial payment of which is being processed,” he added.

Doménica de Pinto denounces irregularities in judicial proceedings in Venezuela

De Pinto explained that for several months his family has been facing an important commercial dispute in the United States courtswhere they filed a lawsuit for organized crime and fraud—among other serious infractions—against Venezuelan private actors.

Likewise, in Venezuela, they have also filed a criminal complaint before the Public Ministry to investigate irregular actions that affect their interests in an important food company in the country.

«However, we have evidenced judicial processes of dubious rigor in Venezuela and, consequently, We have been victims of serious violations of our rightsfacing what appears to be the collusion of operators of the administration of justice, who have possibly acted in line with the wishes of the conspirators,” he said.

“In the context of the facts indicated, I find myself facing an unjust and illegal judicial persecution against me, in which an attempt would be made to illegally use Interpol and the organs of the Venezuelan justice system,” stated Doménica de Pinto.