The Peruvian Prosecutor's Office opened an 8-month preliminary investigation against former Odebrecht representative in Peru Jorge Simoes Barata for money laundering offences.
The investigation will fall under the Prosecutor's Office No 2 in Corporate Matters Specialized in Crimes of Money Laundering and Asset Forfeiture.
Authorities opened the investigation after identifying two Peruvian bank accounts with close to US$13 million covering mutual funds, voluntary retirement fund contributions and other international transfers made in 2006-2016.
Suspicious transactions between said fund and foreign accounts were immediately notified by the country's Financial Intelligence Unit (UIF), which later proceeded to freeze the said accounts.
The complex investigation will require various hearings to determine the offence, including lifting Barata's bank secrecy and taking his statement.
As is known, Barata is a key piece in the investigation into Odebrecht’s bribes to Peruvian officials to secure infrastructure projects in 2005-2015.
The former Odebrecht executive is currently in Brazil, where he has plea bargained.
(END) CCR/DHT/MVB