CARACAS, Venezuela — The head of a supermarket chain taken over by the Venezuelan government rejected on Sunday charges that the company was hoarding foodstuffs to destabilize the economy, arguing that its warehouse had only three days’ supply of basic goods.
“They know there’s a huge issue with food scarcity in Venezuela and they do not want to be responsible,” José Vicente Aguerrevere, the chief executive of the Día Día chain, said of the government.
He said that he did not know why his company was singled out Friday when President Nicolás Maduro ordered the chain of 35 small supermarkets in 16 cities to be “taken over” by a government-operated network of grocery stores.
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Mr. Aguerrevere also said that Mr. Morales was arrested inside the presidential palace last week after leaving a meeting with a vice president in charge of food supplies.
“He is illegally detained,” said Mr. Aguerrevere, adding that the charges against Mr. Morales carry up to 10 years in prison. “It’s crazy. He’s totally not guilty. It’s not fair to his human rights.”
