Former Cusco Regional Governor Jorge Acurio Tito on Wednesday became the latest Peruvian authority to get sucked into the massive Odebrecht graft scandal.
Acurio was detained this morning in Cusco over bribery allegations linked to corruption-tainted Odebrecht, Peru's Public Ministry announced.
According to the Prosecutor's Office, the ex-governor received a US$3-million bribe from the Brazilian construction giant to secure a major highway project in the Imperial City.
The arrest took place as part of simultaneous operations carried out in Cusco and Lima by the National Police and a special team of the Prosecutor's Office.
Operations included raids on five properties in Cusco and six in Lima, during which agents also detained alleged bribe intermediary lawyer Jose Zaragoza, local media reported.
Acurio was forced to leave the position as regional governor in December 2013, following a four-year suspended prison sentence on collusion and incompatible negotiation charges.
Acurio thus becomes the second former regional authority detained over bribery allegations related to the Brazilian conglomerate.
The first one, Callao Regional Governor
Felix Moreno, currently serves an 18-month preventive detention sentence.
Moreno was charged with alleged money laundering and influence peddling offences after an Israeli businessman affirmed the authority had received a US$2.4-million bribe from the conglomerate.
The Public Ministry affirms the regional governor would have used his influence to benefit Odebrecht with the Costa Verde–Callao stretch concession.