Peru: Ex-President Garcia's Secretary transferred to jail over Odebrecht case

Photo: AFP

00:00 | Lima, May. 3.

Luis Nava Guibert —Ex-Secretary-General of the Presidency and Minister during deceased ex-President Alan Garcia's second term in office (2006-2011)— on Thursday was taken to Lima's Miguel Castro Castro prison, where he will serve 36-month preventive detention, within the framework of the Odebrecht corruption case investigation.

Three days ago, the Judicial Branch ordered 36-month preventive detention against him over alleged bribes received from Odebrecht for the awarding of Lima Metro Line 1 to the Brazilian construction company.

On April 24, former Odebrecht representative in Peru Jorge Barata told the Peruvian Lava Jato Case Special Prosecution Group in Curitiba (Brazil) that he had given Nava bribes worth over US$4 million to guarantee the continuation of the South Interoceanic Highway's works and gain new projects during ex-President Garcia's second term in office.

For his part —according to IDL-Reporteros— former Petroperu Vice-President Miguel Atala confessed to the Peruvian Prosecutor's Office that he had acted as frontman for Alan Garcia to receive US$1.3 million from Odebrecht. Atala currently serves house arrest for 36 months.

Collaboration agreement

In mid-February, Peru's Lava Jato Case Special Prosecution Group signed the long-awaited collaboration agreement with Odebrecht representatives and former employees in Brazil.

This deal is intended to procure evidence and testimonies for the investigation of corruption cases in the Andean nation.

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.

Odebrecht will pay S/610 million (around US$182 million) —plus interests that may arise— in civil reparations to the Peruvian State over a period of 15 years as part of this agreement.

(END) FHG/DTK/MVB

Published: 5/3/2019

Peru: Ex-President Garcia's Secretary transferred to jail over Odebrecht case

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