Peru: Former Petroperu VP acted as frontman for ex-President Garcia

11:19 | Lima, Apr. 30.

Former Petroperu Vice-President Miguel Atala confessed to the Peruvian Prosecutor's Office that he had acted as frontman for deceased ex-President Alan Garcia to receive US$1.3 million from Odebrecht, IDL-Reporteros informed Tuesday.

In this sense, the former official admitted that the money deposited in his Ammarin Investment's offshore account had been aimed at the ex-President.

Likewise, Atala affirmed he had delivered the money in cash to Garcia in installments worth between US$20,000 and US$30,000, between 2010 and 2018.

According to him, by the end of 2007 —while Garcia was still in office— then-Secretary-General of the Presidency Luis Nava had asked him if he could be the frontman for an offshore account in Andorra to receive money.

The former official had accepted after Nava reassured him that the money was legal and that it would come from businesses unrelated to the Peruvian State.

Afterwards, ex-Odebrecht representative in Peru Jorge Barata had visited and confirmed him there was an account in Banca Privada D'Andorra.

In 2008, Atala had been part of a Peruvian business delegation that traveled to Sao Paulo. The event coincided with the ex-Head of State's official trip to the same Brazilian metropolis.

"(…) In that moment, Luis Nava Guibert approached me, and we held a short conversation in which he told me the money deposited in Ammarin Investment INC's offshore account, worth US$1.312 million, was President Alan Garcia's," Atala expressed.

Furthermore, he indicated that the ex-Head of State —in the second half of 2010— had called and asked him to go to Government Palace.

"Garcia informed me that the money I had in the Ammarin Investment INC's offshore account was his money, and requested me to progressively deliver that money," Atala said.

"After that meeting, I started to take the money to ex-President Alan Garcia Perez," he added.

On the other hand, IDL-Reporteros informed Atala has expressed fear for himself and his family, since he is aware that there is a radical group within APRA —Garcia's political party— known was "shock force" that could hurt him.

Según Atala, en setiembre de 2008, en el contexto de una feria empresarial en Sao Paulo, Luis Nava le dijo que el dinero que estaba depositado en la cuenta de Ammarin Investment INC, por el monto de US$ 1,312,000, era del presidente Alan García. pic.twitter.com/T7ymJ7ZfRH
— IDL-Reporteros (@IDL_R) 30 de abril de 2019

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 was 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) CCR/DTK/MVB

Published: 4/30/2019

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