Defense Minister Orlando Maniglia confirmed Tuesday that an investigation council is prosecuting a group of army officers for alleged embezzlement in management of a sugar mill in western Barinas state.

"Actually, I cannot air much information, because it has been through investigation councils. I have organized already an inquiry into a group of people, all of them officers, concerning alleged administrative irregularities in a sugar mill in Barinas state," Maniglia said at the Vice-President's Office.

The Comptroller General Office "is also working and we are in the investigative stage."

Maniglia refused to give details on the case by arguing that the process should be reserved. However, he promised to brief on the results once the investigation is completed and legal conclusions and decisions are made.

"As a matter of fact, an investigation is taking place," he noted.