Venezuela: An alleged credit card fraud at the Bank of Maracaibo in 1992-1993, its possible connection to an electoral financial scandal during the election campaign of December 1993, whether this scandal was exposed or publicized by the Organized Democratic Party of Reformist Structure (Partido Organizado Democrático de Estructura Renovadora - PODER) during its campaign, and any consequences of PODER's denunciations
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 May 1998 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | VEN29271.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Venezuela: An alleged credit card fraud at the Bank of Maracaibo in 1992-1993, its possible connection to an electoral financial scandal during the election campaign of December 1993, whether this scandal was exposed or publicized by the Organized Democratic Party of Reformist Structure (Partido Organizado Democrático de Estructura Renovadora - PODER) during its campaign, and any consequences of PODER's denunciations, 1 May 1998, VEN29271.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6abf840.html [accessed 17 September 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Please note that useful information on the political party PODER and its dissolution in 1995 can be found in Response to Information Request VEN28018.E of 30 October 1997. Response to Information Request VEN27307.F of 14 July 1997 and its attachments contain information on the collapse and nationalization of Banco Maracaibo by the Venezuelan government.
The following information was obtained during a 11 May 1998 telephone interview with a leader of the Programa Venezolana de Educación-Acción en Derechos Humanos (PROVEA) in Caracas.
Although the representative stated that she had never heard of a political party named PODER, she did say that there are always allegations which question the sources of funding for electoral campaigns and political parties in Venezuela. However, she had no information on any links between a financial scandal during the 1993 election campaign and a credit card fraud at the Bank of Maracaibo during the same period.
Despite numerous attempts, the Research Directorate was unable to contact an official of the Bank of Maracaibo for information on an alleged credit card fraud. No information could be found on a denunciation by PODER of a financial scandal during the December 1993 electoral campaign nor the scandal's connection with a credit card fraud at the Bank of Maracaibo.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.
Reference
Programa Venezolana de Educación-Acción en Derechos Humanos (PROVEA), Caracas. 11 May 1998. Telephone interview with a representative.
Additional Sources Consulted
Latin America Regional Reports [London]: Andean Group Reports. 1992-1993.
Latin American Weekly Report [London]. 1992-1993.
Programa Venezolana de Educación-Acción en Derechos Humanos (PROVEA). October 1993-September 1994. Situación de los Derechos Humanos en Venezuela. Annual Report. Caracas: PROVEA.
_____. September 1992-October 1993. Situación de los Derechos Humanos en Venezuela. Annual Report. Caracas: PROVEA.
Electronic Sources: IRB Databases, Global News Bank, Lexis/Nexis, Internet, REFWORLD, World News Connection (WNC).