Venezuela Opposition Leader Banned From Holding Public Office For 15 Years - Comptroller

Faizan Hashmi Published March 29, 2019 | 12:15 AM

Venezuelan Comptroller General Elvis Amoroso announced on Thursday that opposition-led National Assembly Speaker Juan Guaido, who illegally proclaimed himself president, has been barred from holding public office for 15 years

QUITO (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 29th March, 2019) Venezuelan Comptroller General Elvis Amoroso announced on Thursday that opposition-led National Assembly Speaker Juan Guaido, who illegally proclaimed himself president, has been barred from holding public office for 15 years.

"Since Article 105 of the Office of the Comptroller's General permits the introduction of sanctions in the form of taking away rights from civil servants, the decision has been made to ban Juan Guaido from holding any public office positions," Amoroso said as quoted by Venezuelan Noticias24 news outlet.

According to the comptroller, his office ordered a probe into Guaido's declaration of property on February 11. The investigation was carried out in connection with suspicions that the opposition leader had concealed or forged data contained in it, and also received money from international and national structures without declaring it.

According to Amoroso, the office found that Guaido had made over 90 trips outside Venezuela, which cost over 300 million bolivars ($30 million) and did not register where the funds to pay for the trips came from.

In January, US-backed opposition leader Guaido declared himself interim president of Venezuela after disputing Maduro's reelection victory in May of 2018. The United States and 54 countries recognized Guaido as Venezuela's interim president and called on Maduro to step down.

Maduro has called Guaido a US puppet and accused the United States of trying to orchestrate a coup to topple Venezuela's legitimate government as well as claim the country's resources. Russia, China, Turkey, Cuba, Bolivia and a number of other countries have said they recognize Maduro as the only legitimate president of Venezuela.