Mar 23, 2011, 2:23 a.m. | "We do not investigate people, investigate

facts "

Luisa Ortega Díaz

Attorney General of the Republic Mariana Martínez Ramírez

mmartinez@cadena-capirles.com

Prosecutor Luisa Ortega Diaz said in the National Assembly that the Public Ministry opened an investigation into the use of the pension fund of employees of Petroleos de Venezuela after three complaints.

The investigation is being conducted by the 6th national prosecutor, María Alejandra Pérez.

"We do not investigate people, investigate facts and then carried out research tell us who is responsible for these acts and if they are punishable," said Ortega Diaz about the possibility of an investigation into the heads of state oil company.

The United States has a lawsuit against Francisco Illaramendi for fraudulent use of money in a pyramid scheme, including about $ 540 million pension fund of PDVSA.

The United Federation of Oil Workers of Venezuela, has asked to keep to safeguard the money of the Pension Fund and the Savings Bank of the oil workers.

In this sense, recently announced that the state oil company decided to hire attorneys to defend these funds in the U.S. where it is still the case.

Illaramendi pleaded guilty to five counts of operations performed in that country, under the figure of the system "Ponzi" pyramid scheme, where the latter is trapped.

It was there that were "frozen" part of the funds of workers and seek mechanisms to recover.

The prosecutor acknowledged that his office received three complaints, so it was decided to open an investigation into "facts" and not against against people. One of the complaints was introduced by Mr Ismael García and Julio Montoya.

The Commission of Audit of the National Assembly also initiated an investigation