Andina

Peru: Marcelo Odebrecht gives evidence against former President Humala

11:11 | Lima, Sep. 5.

Odebrecht's former CEO Marcelo Odebrecht gave the Prosecutor's Office in Brazil documents showing evidence of a payment of US$3 million to finance the campaign of Peru's ex-President Ollanta Humala back in 2011.

The evidence submitted consists of a CD with emails, notes stored in the mirror image backup of the businessman's personal computer, and records from Odebrecht's Structured Operations Sector.

The documents include payments and bank transfers the company made to fund Humala's presidential campaign, at the request of Brazil's Workers Party.

According to an investigative journalism site IDL-Reporteros, the transactions were kept secret under the code names "Campanha NAC 3" and "Obra Italo Italiano Eleccion Peru."

"ltaliano" (Italian) was the nickname of former Brazilian Minister Antonio Palocci —the alleged link between Humala and the Workers Party. 

"Palocci asked our support, he asked us to give him US$3 million to back the campaign of Mr. Ollanta Humala in Peru," Marcelo Odebrecht told Peruvian prosecutors in May 2017.

The construction company operated a parallel accounting system called "Structured Operations Sector" to pay bribes.

Ollanta Humala

Ollanta Humala and his wife Nadine Heredia were released from prison in April this year, following a Constitutional Court's ruling in favor of a habeas corpus submitted by their lawyer.

As is known, they are being investigated for allegedly having received illegal money from corruption-tainted Odebrecht to fund Humala's presidential campaign in 2011.

Humala served as President between 2011 and 2016. He was succeeded by Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, who resigned the presidency last March amid a political scandal.

Odebrecht

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. 

The period in question spans over three previous presidencies: Alejandro Toledo (2001-2006), Alan Garcia (2006-2011), and Ollanta Humala (2011-2016). 

Last May, the Government called on U.S. authorities to approve the extradition of fugitive ex-President Toledo so that he can face Peruvian justice.

(END) JCR/FHG/RMB/MVB

Publicado: 5/9/2018