Peru: Attorney General to remain in post

15:00 | Lima, Mar. 7.

Peruvian Public Ministry's Board of Supreme Prosecutors lifted the interim tag off of Zoraida Avalos' title, making her the full-time Attorney General of the Inca country.

Avalos will hold the position for the next three years.

As is known, the Supreme Prosecutor previously assumed the post of interim Attorney General to replace Pedro Chavarry, who stepped down from the job amid widespread unrest following his decision to remove the top prosecutors investigating the Lava Jato case, which was subsequently reversed.

As interim Attorney General, Avalos decided to declare the Public Ministry in a state of emergency in order to regain citizens' trust in the institution.

According to media reports, Chavarry participated in the session, despite the fact that diverse figures had urged him not to do so because of criticism against him.

Removal and reinstatement

Former Attorney General Pedro 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 across the Inca country.

The removal of the top prosecutors investigating the case did harm the agreement and, therefore, the investigation.

On January 2, Chavarry reversed his 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 then-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.

(END) CCR/DTK/RMB

Published: 3/7/2019

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Peru: Attorney General to remain in post

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