Venezuela Governor in Land Probe

Caracas, Oct 20 (Prensa Latina) Charges might be pressed against Venezuelan governor of Zulia, Manuel Rosales for the questionable purchases of 11 ranches, press sources reported on Monday.

Mayor of Maracaibo, capital of Zulia state, Giancarlo di Martino told local newspaper Panorama that when he was in office Rosales bought 11 ranches under his name or using those of his followers.

"The properties are located in Sucre, Catatumbo, Francisco Javier Pulgar, Baralt, Colon, and Rosario de Perija", said Di Martino who is also a candidate to the provincial government for the Socialist United Party of Venezuela.

Di Martino said that Rosales will have to prove the origin of that real estate in court because at the time of purchase he only had a government employee salary.

The ranches are strongly guarded by members of the Quick Response Group, which is a dependent of the regional police in an area where farmers complain about the lack of safety on their land.

Di Martino said that the initial results of the investigation were already sent to President Hugo Chavez who requested the Attorney General's office conduct a thorough inquiry with the Supreme Court.

Zulia state MP Mario Isea recently exposed the massive tax fraud in which Rosales is involved before the District Attorney's office and Parliament.

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