Maduro Becomes Latest Leader Accused in Huge Bribery Scheme
12, 2017
MEDELLÍN, Colombia — President Nicolás Maduro of Venezuela received at least $35 million in bribes from a Brazilian construction company
in 2013, according to a video posted on a blog run by the country’s former attorney general, who fled the country in August.
Luisa Ortega said that He asked for 50, and I accepted to pay him 35 million,
"We accepted to pay, the funds were made available for him during the campaign,
and President Maduro won the elections by a narrow margin," Mr. Azevedo says on the recording.
In the video, a man identified as Euzenando Prazeres de Azevedo, who managed the Venezuelan operations of the company, Odebrecht,
said he was "asked for a large sum" by a representative of Mr. Maduro when he was running for the presidency in 2013.
In July, an investigative report published by the Brazilian newspaper O Globo said Mr. Azevedo had made payoffs both to Mr. Maduro and Mr. Capriles.
Mr. Azevedo describes Mr. Mata as a "representative of Mr. Nicolás Maduro," who had
served as vice president under Mr. Chávez and was his hand-picked successor.
