CONFIDENTIAL
HKCB 400/
RECEIVED IN
STRY
COMAR 1990
do
Q DIST'?
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO DESKBY 27090OZ FCO
TELNO 726
OF 270745Z FEBRUARY 90
AND TO DESKBY 27130OZ CARACAS
INFO PRIORITY PEKING
004233
MDHIAN 8688
FCO TELNO 426: ALLEGATION OF CORRUPTION AGAINST ACTING CONSUL- GENERAL OF VENEZUELA, GONZALO RAMIREZ CALLES
1. ACTING CONSUL-GENERAL RAMIREZ WAS ARRESTED AT 0806 HOURS TODAY CHONG KONG TIME). HE WAS DETAINED UNDER SECTION 18 (1) OF THE PREVENTION OF BRIBERY ORDINANCE (CAP 201): THIS IS TO PREVENT A PERSON SUBJECT TO AN INVESTIGATION UNDER THE ORDINANCE FROM LEAVING HONG KONG. IF CHARGES ARE PREFERRED THEY WILL PROBABLY BE LAID UNDER SECTION 9 OF THE ORDINANCE. THE BACKGROUND IS AS WE DESCRIBED IT IN PARA 2 OF OUR TELNO 689 AND THE JUSTIFICATION FOR THE ARREST IS ARTICLE 41 OF THE VIENNA CONVENTION.
2. RAMIREZ WILL NOW APPEAR BEFORE A MAGISTRATE IN CHAMBERS, PROBABLY THIS MORNING. THE MAGISTRATE WILL SEEK ONLY TO SATISFY HIMSELF THAT RAMIREZ HAS NO INTENTION OF LEAVING HONG KONG. IF THERE ARE GROUNDS FOR BELIEVING RAMIREZ MAY ABSCOND HE WILL BE PLACED ON BAIL. OFFICERS OF THE INDEPENDENT COMMISSION AGAINST CORRUPTION (ICAC) ARE SEARCHING RAMIREZ'S PRIVATE PREMISES (WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ANY MATERIAL RAMIREZ CLAIMS TO BE CONSULAR ARCHIVES) AND IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO SAY AT THIS STAGE WHEN OR IF CHARGES WILL BE BROUGHT. RAMIREZ HAS NOT YET CLAIMED IMMUNITY BUT IT IS LIKELY THAT HE WILL DO SO WHEN HE HAS OBTAINED LEGAL ADVICE. WE WILL KEEP YOU INFORMED.
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3. PRESS LINE. GIVEN THE CURRENT MEDIA INTEREST IN VENEZUELAN TRAVEL DOCUMENTS OF SUSPECT VALIDITY, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT RAMIREZ'S ARREST MAY LEAK (THE MEDIA HAVE MADE NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS TO OBTAIN COMMENT AND INFORMATION FROM THE CONSULATE GENERAL OVER THE LAST WEEK). HOWEVER IT IS AN OFFENCE IN HONG KONG TO COMMENT ON ICAC'S OPERATIONAL INVESTIGATIONS. NAMES ARE NOT REVEALED AND ALL HEARINGS ARE IN CAMERA UNTIL CHARGES ARE BROUGHT. WE MUST THEREFORE STICK TO THE ''NO COMMENT'' LINE FOR THE TIME BEING: EVEN IF PRESSED TO CONFIRM THAT RAMIREZ HAS BEEN ARRESTED.
4. GRATEFUL IF YOU COULD NOW INFORM VENEZUELAN AMBASSADOR OF THE
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