Luis Motta Domínguez Explained

Luis Motta Dominguez
Birth Name:Luis Alfredo Motta Dominguez
Birth Date:2 July 1952
Birth Place:Venezuela
Office:Minister of Popular Power for Electric Power
Term Start:20 August 2015
Term End:1 April 2019
Predecessor:Jesse Chacón
Successor:Igor Gavidia
President:Nicolás Maduro

Luis Alfredo Motta Dominguez (born July 2, 1958) is a Venezuelan politician and military officer who has previously served as a Minister of Electric Power during the 2015–2019 period[1] and as president of the National Electricity Corporation (Corpoelec).[2]

He was dismissed by President Nicolás Maduro in April 2019, following a series of blackouts that occurred in March.[3]

Sanctions

In November 2017, Canada sanctioned Domínguez and other Venezuelan officials under the Justice for Victims of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act, stating: "These individuals are responsible for, or complicit in, gross violations of internationally recognized human rights, have committed acts of significant corruption, or both."[4] [5]

The United States sanctioned Domínguez on 27 June 2019 for engaging in significant corruption and fraud to the detriment of the people of Venezuela. The Miami US attorney's office said during a news release that the Motta is indicted on seven counts of money laundering and one count of money laundering conspiracy, after awarding US$60 million in contracts to three Florida-based companies in return for bribes.[6]

On 30 September 2020, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) published a poster on its Twitter account offering up to US$5 million for information that could lead to the capture of Motta Domínguez.

Notes and References

  1. News: Venezuela: Maduro destituye a Luis Motta Domínguez, ministro de Energía Eléctrica. 2 April 2019. 1 April 2019. El Comercio.
  2. News: Luis Motta Domínguez. 31 August 2018. 16 March 2019. Poderopedia.
  3. News: Venezuelan ex-electric chief among 2 indicted in US. 28 June 2019. Al Jazeera. 29 June 2019.
  4. Web site: Canadian sanctions related to Venezuela . Government of Canada . 16 April 2019 . 2019.
  5. Web site: Justice for Victims of Corrupt Foreign Officials - Case 2 . Government of Canada . 16 April 2019 . 2017.
  6. Web site: Treasury Sanctions Officials of the Illegitimate Maduro Regime Involved in Rampant Corruption. United States Department of the Treasury. 29 June 2019. en-us. 27 June 2019.