Peru's former Deputy Communications Minister Jorge Cuba flew back home from the United States and turned himself in on Tuesday to face graft charges.
Cuba, who served during Alan Garcia's second presidency (2006-2011), is accused of receiving US$2 million in bribes from corruption-tainted Odebrecht company.
Investigations revealed three deposits made by the Brazilian construction giant to Cuba's accounts through an offshore firm. Payments were made in exchange of support to secure a Lima Metro Line 1 contract.
The former government official was taken into custody upon arrival at Lima's Jorge Chavez International Airport, where he was met by Odebrecht case lead prosecutor Hamilton Castro and National Police agents for his detention.
As is known, Peru's National Criminal Court issued an international arrest warrant and preventive detention order for Cuba days ago after authorities raided his estate in Lima and found no trace of him.
Jorge Cuba Hidalgo served as Deputy Communications Minister under Enrique Cornejo's administration as Transport and Communications Minister.
Odebrecht
The Brazilian construction giant admitted to having paid bribes of up to US$29 million 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).
The revelation triggered a major investigation under the Peruvian Public Ministry, led by Anticorruption Prosecutor Hamilton Castro.