Andina

Peru President: I have not received anything from Barata

Mensaje a la Nación del Presidente Pedro Pablo Kuczynski.  Foto: ANDINA/Prensa Presidencia

Mensaje a la Nación del Presidente Pedro Pablo Kuczynski. Foto: ANDINA/Prensa Presidencia

10:43 | Lima, Mar. 1.

President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski on Thursday reaffirmed he had not received any donation for his presidential campaign from Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht.

The Head of State also recalled former Odebrecht representative in Peru Jorge Barata has not provided any evidence to the contrary.

"He has not provided any evidence. I have not received anything from Barata, and everything will be investigated to prove that there are no contributions," the statesman told reporters.

Likewise, Mr. Kuczynski denied knowing whether current Peruvian Ambassador to the United Kingdom Susana de la Puente may have been the intermediary in the transaction between Odebrecht and his 2011 electoral campaign.

"I do not know anything about it, the Ambassador should be questioned [about that]," he noted.

As is known, Barata on Wednesday testified before Peruvian prosecutors in Sao Paulo about Odebrecht's contributions to the Inca country's presidential campaigns.

During the interrogation, the ex-Odebrecht officer said he gave US$300,000 for Mr. Kuczynski's 2011 campaign, through Ms. De la Puente, who has denied such claim.

The former Odebrecht executive also revealed he had contributed to the campaigns of Keiko Fujimori, Alejandro Toledo, Alan Garcia, Ollanta Humala, and that of former Lima Mayor Susana Villaran.

It must be noted Barata's statements will be evaluated by the Peruvian Public Ministry.

(END) CCR/JAA/MVB

Published: 3/1/2018