
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
Egypt's cafés and shops forced to close early due to Iran war - 2
From Modesty to Administration: Self-improvement in Interactive abilities - 3
Mount Everest Climbers 'Poisoned' by Guides Prompting Mass Helicopter Rescues in $20 Million Insurance Fraud Scheme, Police Say - 4
New study measures titanium in Apollo rock to uncover Moon’s early chemistry - 5
Israel approves 19 new West Bank settlements in major annexation push
Well known Worldwide Caf\u00e9s to Experience
Auschwitz Committee wants German auction of Holocaust items scrapped
Hubble sees spiral galaxy in Lion's heart | Space photo of the day for Nov. 4
Three arrested in Paris after attempted bomb attack outside Bank of America
A hunger for new experiences Narratives: Motivating Travel and Experience
Step by step instructions to Buy a Jeep Wrangler on a Senior's Spending plan
Getting breast implants was a mistake I live with every day. Why I’m sharing my story now, at 70, in pain and afraid.
The Way to Business: Startup Illustrations Learned
74 suicide warnings and 243 mentions of hanging: What ChatGPT said to a suicidal teen













