“CITGO 6” oil executives launched to deal with arrest in Venezuela in obvious goodwill gesture to US

The group, collectively known as “CITGO 6,” consisted of former executives of US-based refinery CITGO. They were arrested in 2017 on embezzlement charges stemming from a never-executed proposal to refinance some $4 billion in CITGO bonds by offering a 50% stake in the company as collateral. Last year, they were sentenced to between 8 and 13 years in prison.

Attorneys Maria Alejandra Poleo and Jesus Loreto told CNN the six were released from prison on Friday night in Caracas and were on their way home.

Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza retweeted a message on Friday calling the release a goodwill “gesture” to honor the “agenda of the new White House.” CNN has contacted a Venezuelan government spokesperson to seek more information.

Poleo, the attorney, told CNN that “we have been asking a revision of the jail order for a long time, and we welcome the fact the court decided to revert to house arrest today.” She added: “We do not know what prompted this ruling from the court, but…

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