Venezuelan talks of Chavez corruption

MIAMI, Oct. 22 (UPI) -- A Venezuelan businessman who has pleaded guilty to being an unregistered foreign agent in the United States says his ex-partner is guilty of corruption.

Carlos Kauffmann, one-time business partner of fellow Venezuelan Franklin Duran, says Duran once participated with him in a scheme to kick back millions of dollars to Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's government in a Caracas real estate scheme, The Miami Herald reported Wednesday.

Duran is on trial in Miami for illegally promoting the interests of Venezuela in the United States.

Kauffman testified that he and Duran gave $4.5 million to four senior officials in the Venezuelan government so they could continue to win public contracts. Kauffman then clashed with Duran's attorney, Ed Shohat, who suggested that his client did not actually participate in the alleged scheme.

The angry confrontation prompted U.S. District Judge Joan Lenard to temporarily halt testimony in the so-called Suitcase Case and remove the 12-member federal jury, the Herald said.

Closing arguments in the eight-week trial are planned Thursday, with jury deliberations starting Friday, attorneys said.