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Juan José and Reinaldo Slebi de la Rosa are golfers, entrepreneurs in Colombia and Panama and members of an exclusive Barranquilla club.
In the sandy area they say they were close to Álex Saab Moran, before he became a target of US justice, as alleged launderer and frontman of Nicolás Maduro.
(We invite you to read: The woman from Bogota in the sights of the DEA for twists with Álex Saab).
And those close to Saab add that it was they who presented it to Álvaro Pulido, another of those who appear in the charge of money laundering, exceeding 350 million dollars and linked to corruption in the bowels of the Venezuelan regime.
But those social and circumstantial ties between Saab and Slebi – which apparently also coincided with the World Cup in Russia – are not the ones that interest the DEA.
(You may be interested: Álex Saab failed to convince the African court to order his release).
EL TIEMPO established that among the transactions appearing in the file that served as a support to request the capture of Saab in Cape Verde (on June 13) and now his extradition, there are at least seven in which businessmen are mentioned .
EL TIEMPO investigated and determined that DEA agents documented that Saab moved at least $ 420,000 to the United States.
Sources familiar with the process confirmed to this newspaper that the postal orders are linked to a credit card from Juan José Slebi, which covered Saab and Pulido: the numbers are 37695001271838 and 371695001272002, with an expiration date October 2016.
(Also: Why is Alex Saab already packing his bags?).
EL TIEMPO investigated and determined that DEA agents documented that Saab moved at least $ 420,000 to the United States.
Álvaro Pulido, a Saab partner, also had a covered credit card.
Corruption and exports
It is being investigated whether silver is linked to exports of construction material, which entered Venezuela irregularly from Ecuador. In fact, Saab was also being investigated in that country for money laundering.
(It might interest you: Saab says it has 26 denominations and that $ 700 million is not its own).But, before the Cape Verdean justice, Álex Saab – the alleged special agent of Nicolás Maduro – provided his version of these twists.
The United States connects Álex Saab with a dozen companies.
In the sheets that remain in the extradition process against him, to which EL TIEMPO had access, Extended credit cards are alleged to have existed, but were allegedly used to cover legal fees and not for bribes to Venezuelan officials.
(Also: Álex Saab: Maduro’s Agent Tentacles and Luck in 7 Countries).
In fact, members of his defense in Cape Verde go around saying that the evidence of the legality of money transfers had already been collected and that, therefore, the United States had to withdraw seven of the eight charges filed for extradition, and which involved . juicy credit card moves.
Baltasar Garzón, a former Spanish judge, is betting that Saab will collect his freedom due to the expiry of the terms.
Saab, they say, did not need to pay bribes in Venezuela, because its activities had the regime’s blessing. In addition, the entry of material for the construction of subsidized houses was free from import duties and customs taxes. And they add that there is evidence that the houses were built.
(Also: Exclusive: The new lawyer of Álex Saab in Colombia speaks).
Speaking of the papers, they assure that it was a favor of some former allies and that the issue arose because they turned away from them, after they allegedly offered to pull the strings to get them American visas.
(It might interest you: the Maduro regime comes out again in defense of Álex Saab).
“Álvaro Pulido has never had a visa for the United States and Saab had one years ago. The only one who shows up with a visa is his son Shady, who was granted, from 2014 to 2018: first, to study in Los Angeles and the New York Film Academy and then, to work on film projects “, explain the sources aware of the case in Cape Verde.
The allegations against Saab are solid and that, in the case of credit cards, it is not true that we are talking about paying bribes: USA.
¿EE. Has the United States dropped the charges?
EL TIEMPO reporters sought answers on this issue in the United States and federal agents said it was not true that the charges against Saab had been dropped.
(In context: Saab says hooded men beat him to sign the extradition.)
Although they admit that seven have been withdrawn as part of the extradition request to Cape Verde, they all remain firm on the accusation that is being advanced in a Miami court.
“Cape Verde legislation does not allow charges against an extradited person to exceed a one-year sentence. For this reason, only the main charge remained: money laundering, ”a federal source said.
(In context: Cape Verde says Álex Saab “self-mutilates” in prison).
And he added that the allegations against Saab are solid and that, in the case of credit cards, it is not true that we are talking about paying bribes. What is being questioned is the illicit origin of the funds Saab injected into the US financial system.
And he recalled that the Barranquilla is considered the way to achieve the illicit fortunes of the members of the regime, as well as the movements of dollars and gold to Turkey, Iran and even Russia.
As for the businessmen of Barranquilla, there have been no comments on their responsibility or their current situation before the justice of that country.
(It might interest you: Á. Saab says the Cape Verdean police ransacked his diplomatic briefcase). To establish their role and find out if they are bona fide third parties, EL TIEMPO searched for them through their cell phones, their home phones and an email.
But at press time, they hadn’t responded to direct messages left to them.
(See here all the articles of the EL TIEMPO Investigation Unit).
As for Saab, it keeps betting that it will be free in days, but the DEA thinks otherwise.
INVESTIGATIVE UNIT
[email protected]@InvestigativaET
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