The cooperation between Brazilian corruption-tainted construction firm Odebrecht and Peruvian justice has been "unlocked, unfrozen, and restored" without any restrictions, Senior Prosecutor Rafael Vela has affirmed.
This has been possible thanks to negotiations initiated by the Public Ministry.
Speaking at a press conference, Vela remarked the Prosecutor's Office has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), through which
Odebrecht commits itself to cooperate with the Inca country's justice.
"We have the highest expectations. We are optimistic that we will do the job the country demands," he pointed out.
According to Vela, the main objective is to unlock and make the final effective co-operation agreement possible, as well as to establish the necessary conditions to use the evidence regarding the bribe payments by Odebrecht to
Peruvian officials.
Likewise, both parties agree to establish a working agenda that allows the signing of said final agreement within a maximum period of 45 days.
The aforementioned document was inked by Rafael Vela (Coordinator of the Special Group of Prosecutors investigating the
Lava Jato case), Ricardo Machado (Odebrecht company's lawyer), Carlos Kauffmann (former Odebrecht executive Jorge Barata's lawyer), and Lourdes Carreño (Odebrecht company representative in Peru).
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.
(END) CCR/JAA/MVB