Venezuelan Banker Given Asylum by US Found in Panama Papers

[Judi Lynn]

55. Rafael Caldera was the president then, as the 56th, then 63rd Venezuelan President. 200 bankers fled

This is some interesting news to hear for the first time! This was well before Hugo Chavez took office in 1999.

Tiny article on the subject:

Venezuela Drops Bankers' Charges

Published: September 8, 1999

CARACAS, Venezuela, Sept. 7— Judges have thrown out the charges against 24 bankers in one of Latin America's biggest banking scandals, prompting protests from Venezuelans who say the justice system is riddled with corruption.

Authorities announced plans today to investigate the ruling and urged the Constitutional Assembly to speed reforms of the judicial system.

On Friday, Judges Carmen Elena Penaccio and Arnoldo Echegaray dismissed the charges, which included allegations against executives at three major banks -- Banco Latino, Banco Consolidado and Banco de Venezuela -- as well as at the smaller Bancor.

About 200 bankers fled the country after a banking crisis in 1994 led the Government to take over 18 banks and financial institutions.

http://www.nytimes.com/1999/09/08/world/venezuela-drops-bankers-charges.html

Wow! Thank you.

I'll bet they all ran to Florida, too, like so many Latin American right-wing criminals who are US-friendly. What a swamp, literally and otherwise.