Andina

Peru: Ex-President Toledo says he never received money from Barata or Maiman

Alejandro Toledo. Foto: ANDINA/Carlos Lezama

Alejandro Toledo. Foto: ANDINA/Carlos Lezama

12:54 | Lima, Mar. 16.

Peru's ex-President Alejandro Toledo Manrique (2001-2006) on Friday denied having received money from former Odebrecht representative in Peru Jorge Barata or Israeli businessman Josef Maiman.

Toledo —who currently resides in the United States— has an 18-month pre-trial arrest warrant pending against him. It was issued in February 2017 for having allegedly received a US$20-million bribe from the 
Brazilian construction firm.

"I've never received —and I'll prove it, sooner or later— ill-gotten money from Barata or Maiman," he said, speaking from the U.S.

Also, the former Head of State reported the death of his sister Margarita Toledo, who passed away after battling cancer.

"I'm sad and outraged, this damn Peruvian justice politicized by the Fujimorismo and APRA [parties] has prevented me from being with my family now that my sister Margarita has died," he lamented.

Toledo said he feels unheard by the justice system and revealed his lawyers cannot access documents from the Prosecutor's Office, which prevents him from preparing an adequate defense.

Also, he said the Judiciary rejects all habeas corpus petitions submitted by his defense. "Why are they looking for a scapegoat?" he asked himself.

The former Peruvian leader clarified there was no legal impediment for him to travel when he left the Inca country, so he denied being a fugitive from justice.

He also accused Prosecutor Hamilton Castro of traveling to Israel to make businessman Josef Maiman change his version and incriminate him for receiving ill-gotten money from Jorge Barata.

Toledo challenged Barata to say where he had deposited the money he allegedly gave him, after stressing that banking secrecy on his accounts was lifted three times and nothing was found.

The ex-top official abstained from commenting on the extradition file against him. However, he affirmed both APRA and the Fujimorismo have come together to destabilize the country.

Regarding the new presidential impeachment motion, he said the Fujimorismo resurgence is controlling everything, so much so that President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski is not free to take action. "They have him cornered," he stated.

Remarks were made in a phone interview with Peru's RPP radio and TV news station.

(END) CCR/RMB/MVB

Publicado: 16/3/2018