Peruvian companies affiliated to Odebrecht knew about bribes

Photo: AFP

10:50 | Curitiba (Brazil), Feb. 20.

Peruvian companies affiliated to Odebrecht were aware of the bribes paid for the South Interoceanic Highway Project, stretches 2 and 3 (South IIRSA), Conirsa Shareholders Board ex-Secretary Sergio Nogueira Panicali confirmed.

Conirsa was comprised of Odebrecht, Graña y Montero, ICCGSA, and JJC Contratistas Generales. Said consortium won the bid for South IIRSA, stretches 2 and 3 in 2005, during former President Alejandro Toledo's term in office.

According to information gathered by Peruvian La Republica newspaper and Canal N news channel, Nogueira Panicali corroborated the bribe payments former Odebrecht representative in Peru Jorge Barata had already mentioned to Peruvian prosecutors in 2017.

On that occasion, Barata had stated the Inca country's enterprises knew about the bribes which totaled US$20 million.

However, Nogueira Panicali revealed —during the recent interrogation— that the bribe-amount paid for the South Interoceanic Highway Project had reached US$45 million when former Presidents Alejandro Toledo and Alan Garcia were in office.

"Each one of the enterprises received its own profits, but these were transferred to the Brazilian construction company for bribe payments, according to the information we have gathered and that has been confirmed by other sources," Canal N informed.

Collaboration agreement

Last Friday, Peru's Lava Jato Case Special Prosecution Group signed the long-awaited collaboration agreement with Odebrecht representatives and former employees in Brazil.

This deal is 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).

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

Odebrecht will pay S/610 million (around US$182 million) —plus interests that may arise— in civil reparations to the Peruvian State over a period of 15 years as part of this agreement.

(END) RMCH/CVC/DTK/MVB

Publicado: 20/2/2019