Lava Jato Case Special Prosecution Group Coordinator Rafael Vela has clarified that the agreement signed between Peru's Public Ministry and Odebrecht does not imply impunity for the Brazilian company.
"It is not impunity. It is an admission of guilt," Vela told El Comercio newspaper.
According to the senior prosecutor,
the accord also includes an obligation to pay civil reparations.
Likewise, he ruled out claims stating this agreement is only linked to four corruption cases involving Odebrecht.
In this regard, Vela pointed out the Public Ministry will be able to investigate the company if it finds evidence on its own. Plus, he asserted it is impossible to make collaborators plead guilty to their offenses if they do not want to.
He went on to say the accord secures all evidentiary material provided by the company, as well as all future documentation.
"They are obliged to continue collaborating, making statements, and providing evidence in accordance with the Prosecutor's Office's demands," he added.
As for the criticism of this agreement, he said it is made by people who are currently under investigation or those who will be affected by new information expected from Brazil.
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.
Similarly, former presidential candidate
Keiko Fujimori —currently under preventive detention— allegedly received money from Odebrecht for her 2011 campaign.
(END) CCR/DTK/RMB/MVB
Published: 12/11/2018