CARACAS, Venezuela – The chief prosecutor in Venezuela says his office has launched a probe into the country's former oil czar and ambassador to the United Nations.
Tarek William Saab says Rafael Ramirez is being investigated for ties to a vast public corruption scheme at state-run oil company PDVSA.
The announcement Tuesday comes one week after Ramirez resigned from his U.N. post on orders from President Nicolas Maduro.
Ramirez, who was never part of Maduro's inner circle, is believed to have been the ultimate target of housecleaning at PDVSA, which he led for over a decade. The purge has already resulted in the arrest of two of Ramirez's successors at the company and his cousin.
Since resigning, Ramirez has denied taking part in any corruption schemes and has not made his whereabouts public.
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