DIFFERENT ANGLE by Kenneth Rijock
The criminal trial in the Miami Federal case against the Venezuelans charged with acting as unregistered agents of their country, in connection with the Antonini money laundering scandal, is presently scheduled to commence on 23 June of this year. Let us examine what one should expect to see during the trial. I guarantee that the array of international media, especially from Latin America, who will certainly be in attendance, will not be disappointed. Will there be major surprises implicating important Argentinean and Venezuela governmental leaders? And who else will be charged?
- Those defendants who have already pled guilty (Maionica and Kauffmann) will all be testifying against their former associates. Maionica's unopposed motion to delay his sentencing until after the trial is a sign that his lawyer wants his cooperation to be taken into account when the Court pronounces his sentence.
- The star witness, unindicted admitted bulk cash smuggler, Guido Alejandro Antonini Wilson, who has entered into a contractual agreement with US authorities (and probably received immunity) will be there to crucify the surviving defendants who insist on going to trial. It's their funeral, for the voice tapes, the video tapes, and the witnesses make an acquittal a slim possibility.
- Rumours abound that two former vice presidents of Venezuela are implicated in the case; will either of them be indicted? It may be sufficient for them to be named at trial to destroy their future political aspirations.
- The real case below the waterline, possible drug trafficking and money laundering charges against some of the defendants, and others yet unnamed, may surface. Remember, a major drug investigation targeting some of these defendants has been in progress for some time. Will it ripen into a second case?
- The alleged involvement of the director of DISIP, Venezuela's intelligence (read that as secret) police, and the fact that two of the defendants had DISIP credentials when arrested, gives the case the status of official Venezuelan meddling in the United States. Will this be reflected in long sentences meted out later?
This case, which we believe will showcase the complimentary roles of the different defendants, who were bent on covering up a major money laundering scandal involving alleged illegal Venezuelan payments to an Argentinian presidential election candidate, may be one of the more interesting trials this summer, and World-Check will be covering it in depth. Stay tuned.
The facts and opinions stated in this article are those of the author and not those of World-Check. World-Check does not warrant the accuracy of any facts and opinions stated in this article, does not endorse them, and accepts no responsibility for them.
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