Alleged corruption over Spanish patrol vessels bought by Venezuela

Some USD 55 million in commissions has paid Spanish ship-builder Navantia to Rebazve Holding Ltd for the construction of eight patrol vessels for the Venezuelan Navy, reported on Monday Spanish daily newspaper ABC.

As noted by the newspaper, Venezuelan paid USD 1.5 billion for said construction within the framework of a Spanish-Venezuelan bilateral agreement, yet this did not prevent Navantia from paying USD 55 million in commissions to Spanish and Venezuelan intermediaries to win the contract.

It has been revealed that a Spanish court has charged two former senior officials of the Spanish National Institute of Industries with racketeering and tax offenses.

The press report indicates that two months before the sale of the ships in 2005, Navantia signed an agreement with and gave USD 55 million in commissions to Rebazve Holding Ltd, a company managed by Venezuelans Juan Rafael Carvallo López and Pedro Enrique Malavé Benavides.   

Citing sources familiar with the negotiation, ABC explains there is evidence that the two Venezuelans gave high amounts of money to former Venezuelan Navy officials.

Translated by Jhean Cabrera