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Peru designates new Attorney General

12:27 | Lima, Jan. 8.

Supreme Prosecutor Zoraida Avalos on Tuesday assumed the post of Peru's interim Attorney General to replace resigning Pedro Chavarry.

The information was confirmed by Supreme Prosecutor Tomas Galvez in remarks to Canal N local news channel.

According to Galvez, the Board of Supreme Prosecutors accepted the resignation immediately and appointed Avalos as interim Attorney General.

Being the most experienced supreme prosecutor, Pablo Sanchez —who has already served as Attorney General— was supposed to take the post, but he opted to decline in favor of Avalos.

It must be noted the resigning Attorney General will remain as Supreme Prosecutor.

Chavarry stepped down as Attorney General amid widespread unrest following his decision to remove the top prosecutors investigating the Lava Jato case, which was subsequently reversed.

Likewise, the resigning authority indicated he made that decision for —what he considers— the sake of the Public Ministry's autonomy.

Removal and reinstatement

As is known, Attorney General Chavarry —on New Year's Eve— decided to remove Rafael Vela and Jose Domingo Perez from the case.

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

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 Vela and Perez in the case.

Odebrecht

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/RMB/MVB

Published: 1/8/2019

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Peru designates new Attorney General

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