Peru: Attorney General Chavarry refuses to step down

16:37 | Lima, Jan. 4.

Peru's Attorney General Pedro Chavarry refused to resign from his post despite the crisis existing within the Public Ministry, Supreme Prosecutor Tomas Galvez informed Friday.

According to Galvez, during the Board of Supreme Prosecutors' session, the four Supreme Prosecutors asked Chavarry to step down as a way to avoid an institutional crisis.

The group was composed of former Attorney General Pablo Sanchez, Zoraida Avalos, Tomas Galvez, and Victor Rodriguez.

However, the current Attorney General refused to submit his resignation and announced he would assess the matter and give an answer in the next days, the official said.

"He (Chavarry) pretends he has not committed any irregularity and that this crisis cannot be attributed to him," Galvez told RPP radio and TV news station.

Likewise, he indicated the Board of Supreme Prosecutors does not have the power to remove Chavarry.

Said measure can only be taken by Congress due to the absence of an institution such as the National Council of the Magistracy (CNM) —renamed National Justice Board.

Nevertheless, the Supreme Prosecutor pointed out Chavarry's resignation should occur in a few days, since the Board of Supreme Prosecutors is against him, and it would be difficult for the Attorney General to move his administration forward.

Removal and reinstatement

Peruvian Attorney General Chavarry —on New Year's Eve— decided to remove Prosecutors Rafael Vela and Jose Domingo Perez from the Lava Jato Case.

Said decision brought protestors to the streets in several cities of the Inca country.

On January 2, Chavarry reversed his previous decision by reinstating Lava Jato Case Prosecutors Vela and Perez in their posts.

Lava Jato Case Special Prosecution Group Coordinator Vela had previously affirmed there was hostility against the Odebrecht investigation prosecutors. Reports suggested the existence of friction between his team and the Attorney General.

In Peru, the Attorney General is not designated or confirmed by the President of the Republic. In fact, President Vizcarra had expressed his full support to the continuation of Prosecutors Vela and Perez in the case.

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.

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.

(END) CCR/DTK/MVB

Published: 1/4/2019

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Peru: Attorney General Chavarry refuses to step down

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