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A Venezuelan judge on Thursday evening declared six U.S. oil executives, detained in the country for three years, guilty of corruption charges – confirming the disheartening news which blocked any hope of an early release for their families in the United States.
“We, the family, are heartbroken to be even more separated from our loved ones,” said Alirio Rafael Zambrano, brother of two convicted Americans. “We pray that the leaders of our nation will step forward and continue to fight tirelessly for their freedom and human rights.”
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Zambrano received the news on Thanksgiving night and said they were “undeniably innocent” and victims of “judicial terrorism”. He firmly believes that there is no evidence to support their conviction.
The six Americans were considered the Citgo Six because of their jobs with Houston-based oil company Citgo, after being lured to Venezuela for an alleged business meeting before being arrested for corruption.
Citgo is owned by Venezuela’s state oil company PDVSA.
Five of the arrested men were sentenced to eight years and 10 months, although their defense lawyer, Jesus Loreto, said they could be paroled after a few years.
But he did not say when the other man, who was sentenced to 13 years, might be able to apply for parole.
One of the arrested men, Tomeu Vadell, sent a letter to the Associated Press ahead of his conviction, and said during the trial, “the truth has turned out to be undeniable.” “It proves that I am innocent,” he wrote in the four-page handwritten letter from a Caracas prison.
“I now come to an intersection where if justice is done, I can rebuild my life and try to compensate my family for all the lost moments,” he added. “The light is intense – hope is great – give me freedom.”
Vadell’s letter was the first time that one of the prisoners had spoken publicly since his arrest.
Gustavo Cárdenas, Jorge Toledo, brothers Jose Luis Zambrano and Alirio Zambrano – all American citizens with Vadell – were sentenced to almost nine years in prison. But Jose Pereira, a permanent resident, received the longest sentence.
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All the men are held in the famous El Helicoide de Caracus prison.
Defense lawyer María Alejandra Poleo, who represents three of the men, said the case was “without evidence”. “Of course, the defense will appeal the ruling,” she added.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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