Andina

Peru: Judiciary imposes travel ban on Graña entrepreneurs

16:46 | Lima, Nov. 20.

Peruvian Judge Richard Concepcion Carhuancho on Wednesday issued 36-month travel ban for businessmen Jose Graña Miro-Quesada and Hernando Graña Acuña, who are investigated over the alleged commission of collusion and money laundering crimes in the Lima Metro case.

Likewise, the magistrate ordered bond to be paid by Graña Miro-Quesada (S/1 million = US$295,770) and Graña Acuña (S/250,000 = about US$73,942). The money must be deposited within 45 calendar days.

Similarly, he ordered the two citizens to follow rules of conduct and not to be absent from the area where they reside —without prior judicial authorization. Moreover, they must be subject to biometric controls every 30 days and abstain from communicating with other citizens investigated, witnesses, or experts on the same case.

However, Concepcion Carhuancho made an exception, so that Jose Graña Miro-Quesada and Hernando Graña Acuña are allowed to communicate with each other.

During the hearing, the entrepreneurs' legal defense team seemed to have agreed with the request of the Public Ministry, but questioned the bond and asked for it to be replaced by a personal guarantee; the judge declined the petition.

Months ago, Graña Miro-Quesada and Graña Acuña benefited from the effective collaboration in the case of Lima Metro, awarded to the consortium made up of companies Odebrecht and Graña y Montero. Afterwards, the Prosecutor's Office stopped requesting preventive detention for them.

The businessmen had been placed under preventive detention in December 2017. Graña Acuña was released in March 2018 followed by Graña Miro-Quesada in April 2018.

In the same case, the judge also imposed a 36-month travel ban on Juan Manuel Lambarri, as well as an appearance with restrictions measure, and the payment of a bond worth S/50,000 (about US$14,788).


Odebrecht

In mid-February, Peru's Lava Jato Case Special Prosecution Group signed the long-awaited collaboration agreement with Odebrecht representatives and former employees in Brazil. The accord did not include the Southern Gas Pipeline project.

This deal was intended to procure evidence and testimonies for the investigation of corruption cases in the Andean nation.
       
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)


(END) RMCH/MVB

Publicado: 20/11/2019