Former Odebrecht Executive confirms US$1 million contribution to Keiko Fujimori's campaign

17:26 | Curitiba (Brazil), Dec. 13.

Former Division of Structured Operations Executive at Brazilian company Odebrecht, Luiz Eduardo da Rocha Soares, on Friday confirmed to Lava Jato Case Special Prosecution Group the contribution of US$1 million to fund Keiko Fujimori's 2011 presidential campaign, according to IDL-Reporteros investigative journalism site.

Da Rocha Soares stated that the money contributed to Fujimori was registered under the pseudonym "National Campaign" and was remitted through the so-called Box 2 of the company's Division of Structured Operations —also deemed as the corporation's bribery department.

He added that former Odebrecht representative in Peru Jorge Barata and former Director for Latin America Luiz Antonio Mameri were directly involved, according to reports from the Peruvian press in Curitiba.

In this sense, Da Rocha Soares indicated that the sums entered Peru through simulated contracts signed with Construmaq and Constructora Area. Both of them are owned by fugitive businessman Gonzalo Monteverde Bussalleu, who used to hand over the amounts to Odebrecht officers based in Peru.

This revelation is part of the statements made by Barata, who reaffirmed before the Lava Jato Case Special Prosecution Group that he had delivered US$1 million to Keiko Fujimori's 2011 campaign.

Remarks were made during the interrogation conducted by the Lava Jato Case Special Prosecution Group at the Parana State Attorney General's Office.

#ÚLTIMO Da Rocha Soares confirmó que Gonzalo Monteverde actuó como generador de recursos para la Caja 2 de Odebrecht; y en esa línea habló del rol clave que jugaron en ello dos de las empresas del doleiro peruano: Constructora Área y Construmaq. pic.twitter.com/YCYbSCptQQ
— IDL-Reporteros (@IDL_R) December 13, 2019

Constitutional Court

On November 25, the Constitutional Court (TC) decided to declare well founded the habeas corpus submitted by Keiko Fujimori's relatives to annul the preventive detention imposed on her.

The presentation on the habeas corpus in favor of Fuerza Popular party leader's freedom was in charge of TC Chairman Ernesto Blume.

"Concerning the decision taken, I must clarify that the Constitutional Court has not passed judgment on the substantive issue in the case of citizen Keiko Sofia Fujimori Higuchi, and has not declared her acquittal or condemned her. That is the exclusive responsibility of the Judicial Branch," Blume told reporters at a press conference following the announcement.

TC members Ernesto Blume, Jose Luis Sardon, Augusto Ferrero Costa, and Carlos Ramos voted in favor of the habeas corpus. For their part, Eloy Espinosa-Saldaña, Manuel Miranda, and Marianella Ledesma voted against the petition.

Such appeal was filed last July by Sachi Fujimori —sister of the former presidential candidate— with the purpose of annulling the preventive detention order.

Preventive detention

As is known, Keiko Fujimori was ordered to serve preventive detention over alleged money laundering charges linked to the Brazilian company Odebrecht.

Thus, she was accused of leading a criminal organization within the Fuerza Popular political party.

Back then, the Judicial Branch declared well founded the request made by the Prosecutor's Office to imprison Fujimori because of the danger of obstruction of justice that implied keeping her free.

On October 31, 2018, Judge Richard Concepcion Carhuancho ordered her preventive detention for 36 months. However, last September, the Judicial Branch ruled in favor of reducing the preventive detention to 18 months.

She is the daughter of former President Alberto Fujimori, who ruled the Inca country between 1990 and 2000. He is currently in jail for crimes of corruption and against human rights committed during his time in office.

(END) JAM/JCC/MVB

Published: 12/13/2019

Former Odebrecht Executive confirms US$1 million contribution to Keiko Fujimori's campaign

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