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Peru: Attorney General to support Lava Jato case prosecutors, collaboration agreement

00:00 | Lima, Jan. 10.

Peru's new Attorney General Zoraida Avalos has affirmed she will support the work of the Public Ministry's Special Team in charge of the Odebrecht case, as well as the collaboration agreement signed with said company.

According to the official —who replaces resigning Pedro Chavarry— this is the best way to find the truth.

In this sense, Avalos recognized the importance of the collaboration agreement and pointed out it should remain undisclosed.

"Peruvians deserve to know the truth through this accord," the Attorney General expressed in this sense.

Thus, the Inca country's citizens will be aware of what was the money's route, as well as how, when, and to whom it was given through bribes paid in exchange for public work contracts.

Furthermore, Avalos promised not to attack the investigations and to maintain the independence of the Special Team's Prosecutors.

"I will not get involved. The content of the agreement is classified," she concluded.

Removal and reinstatement

Former Attorney General Pedro Chavarry —on New Year's Eve— decided to remove Prosecutors Rafael Vela and Jose Domingo Perez from the Lava Jato Case.

Said decision brought protestors to the streets in several cities of the Inca country.

The removal of the top prosecutors investigating the case did harm the agreement and, therefore, the investigation.

On January 2, Chavarry reversed his previous decision by reinstating Lava Jato Case Prosecutors Vela and Perez in their posts.

Lava Jato Case Special Prosecution Group Coordinator Vela had previously affirmed there was hostility against the Odebrecht investigation prosecutors. Reports suggested the existence of friction between his team and the then-Attorney General.

In Peru, the Attorney General is not designated or confirmed by the President of the Republic. In fact, President Vizcarra had expressed his full support to the continuation of Prosecutors Vela and Perez in the case.

Odebrecht

As is known, the Brazilian construction giant admitted to having paid millions in bribes to government officials in Peru, in order to secure public-works contracts.

As a result, Odebrecht benefited from over US$143 million between 2005 and 2014 in Peru, according to the U.S. Justice Department.

In addition, four ex-Presidents have been linked to the Brazilian company such as: Alejandro Toledo (2001-2006), Alan Garcia (2006-2011), Ollanta Humala (2011-2016), and Pedro Pablo Kuczynski (2016-2018).

Former presidential candidate Keiko Fujimori —currently under preventive detention— also allegedly received money from Odebrecht for her 2011 campaign.

(END) DTK/MVB

Publicado: 10/1/2019