
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
NASA shares first photos of Earth taken by Artemis II - 2
What to know about the "wild, wild West" of viral peptide claims - 3
Judge sets $60K bond for Florida congresswoman accused of stealing $5M in COVID-19 funds - 4
Scientists uncover an ant assassination scheme that helps a parasitic queen rise to power - 5
The newest 'Project Hail Mary' trailer shows Ryan Gosling befriending an alien in Phil Lord and Chris Miller's space epic
Finding the Force of Mentorship: Self-awareness Through Direction
NASA will bring space station crew home early after medical issue
Parents search for children missing since a volcanic eruption in Colombia 40 years ago
Well known SUVs With Low Energy Utilization In 2024
Surprising links between autism, Alzheimer’s could change how we treat both
2024's Savvy Home Gadgets for an Associated Way of life
Novo Nordisk slashes prices of popular weight loss and diabetes drugs
A soft launch, an unfollow and a lot of questions: Breaking down the 'Summer House' romance blowing up group chats
Will your baby get a hep B vaccine? What RFK panel's ruling means.













