The National Observatory for Consumer Protection (ONPECO) reported the vandalizing of the vehicle of Jefte Rafael Ventura on Sunday, 23 June 2024. Ventura for more than a year ago has been denouncing petrol companies commit consumer fraud in filling stations on the ‘Hablando de Vehículos’ digital platform.
His lawyer, Gian Carlos Martinez says they are asking the Attorney General Office to give special attention to this case. “No doubt criminal hands are the ones responsible for this terrorist act against a brave young man who has been eager to defend consumers,” the entity states in a press release.
Ventura has denounced that some stations are selling premium gasoline with little difference to the lower-priced regular fuel. But the government has not acted.
Onpeco recalls that at the beginning of their complaint, the body that regulates the sale of fuels denied the claim, but later recognized that a distortion existed. The Ministry of Industry & Commerce has not informed if the situation has been corrected.
“The intent of kidnapping and the question of what happened to Jefte Ventura’s vehicle indicate that someone has felt affected by the complaint and wants to silence the voice that has risen in defense of fuel consumers,” said the lawyer.
“We urge the prosecutor Miriam Germán to dedicate special effort in this investigation to ensure that the culpable are punished, together with those who advocate fraud against consumers, which is a step within the scheme of corruption that affects the country,” indicates the press release.
Noticiero Poteleche of Diario Libre dedicated the cartoon of 25 June 2024 to the incident, showing a blank screen when the authorities present the results of their investigations.
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25 June 2024