
Oil tycoon Wilmer Ruperti showed up for a meeting with Venezuela’s intelligence agency last Thursday. A week later, he’s still in custody, one of his lawyers told Semafor.
“We’ve reached out to everybody trying to get proof of life or some support,” Winston & Strawn’s Cari Stinebower said, adding that officials still haven’t conveyed “how he’s being treated or why he’s being detained.”
Ruperti, who arrived at the meeting with a security detail, is a Venezuelan Italian shipping magnate who trades in petroleum coke. His detainment followed interim President Delcy Rodríguez’s decision to elevate the agency’s longtime chief to defense minister.
“The message is that Venezuela is open for business — but detaining businessmen for days on end without any due process or access to counsel is more old regime,” Stinebower said. “This is not law and order and not conducive of a welcoming business environment.”
The State Department and Energy Department did not respond to requests for comment.
LATEST POSTS
- 1
They died 'doing what they loved': The stories of workers in their 80s who died on the job - 2
It Looks Like a Tiny, Fluffy Dragon, But It's Really a Bird. Meet the Great Eared Nightjar - 3
Scientists map of old Mars river basins for the 1st time. These could be great places to search for ancient life - 4
Science is best communicated through identity and culture – how researchers are ensuring STEM serves their communities - 5
Six Flags Opens the Tallest, Fastest and Longest Roller Coaster in the World
Meet ‘NASA Mike,’ who’s done 105,000 handstands around the world
Which Breakfast Enraptures Your Taste Buds? Vote
Vote In favor of Your Favored Distributed computing Administration
Health insurance premiums rose nearly 3x the rate of worker earnings over the past 25 years
Find the Advantages of Deep rooted Getting the hang of: Extending Information and Self-awareness
Benedict Cumberbatch takes on something even Sherlock can’t solve: male grief
Virtual reality opens doors for older people to build closer connections in real life
War in Iran could exacerbate German housing crisis, minister warns
The Benefits of Rehearsing Careful Nurturing













