CARACAS (Reuters) – Venezuelan authorities have arrested former industry and oil minister Pedro Telechea, Attorney General Tarek Saab said on Monday, citing the alleged commission of “serious crimes against the nation’s highest interests”.
In a statement on Instagram, Saab said Telechea was arrested in the early hours of Sunday along with his closest associates, whom he did not name.
Tellechea was responsible for handing over control of part of state oil company PDVSA to a company controlled by US intelligence services, Saab added, without providing further details.
Telechea announced his resignation in a social media post on Friday, citing “health issues”.
President Nicolás Maduro announced Telechea’s replacement, close Maduro ally Alex Saab, the same day. Alex Saab was released in a prisoner swap with the United States late last year after being held on money laundering charges.