Mario Villarroel
Mario Villarroel | |
|---|---|
Mario Villarroel Lander | |
| President of the International League/Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies | |
| In office 1987–1997 | |
| Preceded by | Enrique de la Mata |
| Succeeded by | Astrid Nøklebye Heiberg |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 21 September 1947 |
| Spouse | Norka Sierralta |
| Children | Morris Villaroel Sierralta, Marrión Villaroel Sierralta (Marion Troitino) y Mario Villaroel Sierralta |
Mario Enrique Villarroel Lander (born 21 September 1947) is a Venezuelan lawyer.
Career
After studying jurisprudence at the Central University of Venezuela, he graduated as LL. D. in criminology. He is currently the professor for criminal law at the Universidad Santa María in Caracas and president of the Venezuelan Red Cross Society. In 1987, he succeeded Enrique de la Mata Gorostizaga as President of the International League of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies from 1987 to 1997. During his tenure, in November 1991, it was renamed the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. He also functioned occasionally as the president of the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue in Geneva.[1][2]
He was president of the Venezuelan Red Cross Society until August 2023, when he was removed from his post amidst a scandal after being denounced by “several other members of his team for harassment and mistreatment of volunteers and paid staff.”[3][4][5][6][7]
Controversies
Along with his children, Morris Villaroel Sierralta and Marion Troitino (born Marión Villarroel Sierraalta), he has been accused of involvement in the disappearance of his client, César Augusto de Caro Marino, who has been missing since 2008 after inheriting $9 million. The accusation is related to the emptying of his bank accounts following this event.[8][9]
In 2025, he was accused of being linked, along with his son and in collusion with Supreme Court Justice Calixto Ortega, to bribing voters to secure recognition of Nicolás Maduro's disputed victory in the 2024 Venezuelan presidential elections.[10]
That same year, a group of people affected by his judicial decisions requested an investigation into several companies registered in his and his wife Norka Sierralta's names for the alleged purchase of five properties, valued at $4 million, with funds obtained through corruption.[11][12]
References
- ^ Rodrigues, Charlene Anne (5 Aug 2023). "Venezuela Red Cross President Mario Enrique Villarroel fired by court". BBC News. Retrieved 4 Oct 2023.
- ^ "Red Cross Voices 'Serious Concerns' after Venezuela Chief Sacked". VOA. Agence France-Presse. 9 Aug 2023. Retrieved 4 Oct 2023.
- ^ "TSJ interviene la Cruz Roja Venezolana y designa a Ricardo Cussano como presidente". Banco y Negocios (in Spanish). 5 August 2023. Retrieved 2025-10-31.
Mario Villarroel dirigió durante 45 años la Cruz Roja
- ^ "Investigan al presidente de Cruz Roja Venezolana por acoso y maltrato a personal". Europa Press (in Spanish). 2023-07-29. Retrieved 2025-11-05.
- ^ Rodrigues, Charlene Anne (2023-08-05). "Venezuela Red Cross President Mario Enrique Villarroel fired by court". BBC. Retrieved 2025-11-05.
- ^ ""Lo mandaron a matar": La historia que une a Mario y Morris Villarroel con un secuestro y 9 millones de dólares". Noti Tarde. 2023-10-30. Retrieved 2025-11-05.
- ^ Contreras, Brian (2023-07-28). "Tras señalamientos de Cabello, MP investigará al presidente de Cruz Roja Venezuela". Tal Cual (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-11-05.
- ^ "La historia que une a un abogado, su cliente, un secuestro y 9 millones de dólares". La Razón (in Spanish). España. 2025-11-01. Retrieved 2025-11-05.
- ^ "Telemundo: Cuestionan presencia chavista en el ayuntamiento de la ciudad de Doral en Estados Unidos". AlbertoNews (in Spanish). 2024-05-24. Retrieved 2025-11-05.
- ^ "¿Quién es Mario Villarroel Lander?: La guerra entre corruptos". Con la Lupa (in Spanish). 2024-11-12. Retrieved 2025-11-05.
- ^ Majano, Víctor Hugo (2025-11-04). "Piden investigar origen de patrimonio inmobiliario valorado en cuatro millones de dólares registrado a nombre de compañías cuyo único accionista es Mario Villarroel Lander". La Tabla (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-11-05.
- ^ De La Torre, Cocky (2023-08-09). "Familia de Mario Villarroel Lander creó entramado empresarial en Florida mientras el abogado se desempeñaba como presidente de la Cruz Roja venezolana". El faro del morro (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-11-05.