Trial Has Begun In Venezuela For Six American Oil Executives

Caracas, Venezuela (AP) – A Venezuela court has begun the trial of six American oil executives accused of corruption more than two years ago. Defense attorney Jesus Loreto said Friday that the case has taken on a new sense of urgency. The six executives of Houston based Citgo refineries were arrested in late 2017 after they were called to attend a meeting of PDVSA, the firm’s state run parent company. Loreto says there seems to now be an interest in quickly resolving the case. He credits the movement to a Caracas meeting in July between Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro and former New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson.