Venezuela: Businessman on parole after five months in prison

O known Venezuelan-Italian businessman José Enrique Rincón, moved to the parole regime and left the prison of El Rodeo I, being subject to periodic presentations to the authorities, confirmed today the non-governmental organization Foro Penal (FP).

The release took place last Saturday, November 7, a day after the opposing leader María Corina Machado visited the vicinity of the prison complex of El Rodeo I to accompany the families of the political prisoners and demand the release of the detainees.

“The businessman José Enrique Rincón was released on Saturday under precautionary measures, after almost five months in prison,” sources from the direction of the Criminal Court to the EFE Agency in Caracas, cited by the Venezuelan press, have now advanced.

Despite having passed parole, the businessman, who is also a civil engineer, will remain subject to ongoing criminal proceedings, being obliged to submit periodically to court whenever notified and remaining forbidden to leave Venezuela.

Founder of the Lamar Group, one of the largest shrimp production and export companies in the state of Zúlia (northwest), José Enrique Rincón, 61 years old, was detained since 14 June, when he voluntarily returned from Panama to respond to justice in a case instituted at the end of 2024.

The Venezuelan authorities had accused the businessman of alleged conspiracy, treason to the homeland and criminal association, a process that motivated the state expropriation of the assets of the Lamar Group, now managed by the state-owned Xia Caribbean Mar C.A.

After being notified of the amendment of the coercion measure, the entrepreneur issued a statement stressing that the latter reinforced the determination of the group.

“ This episode, far from weakening us, has made us stronger and more committed. He reminded us that our purpose goes beyond business: we aspire to continue to contribute to the development of the country and to the objectives that Venezuela has set in its foreign policy ", he said.

The document also notes that “the recovery of Lamar Group’s assets and operations is ongoing as a solution, and the corresponding actions have been initiated to regain control of companies and goods in Venezuela.”.

The local press also notes that State intervention has caused a reduction of more than 90% in the group's export capacity over the past year.

According to the Criminal Court, on October 26, 2026, 322 people were arrested for political reasons in Venezuela.

According to sources of the local Portuguese community, among those detained for political reasons are four Portuguese-venezuelans, one of whom is under house arrest.