Andina

Peru Justice Min: Agreement with Odebrecht to help identify culprits

13:22 | Lima, Mar. 21.

The collaboration agreement signed between Peru's Public Ministry and Odebrecht will enable the identification of the people responsible for corruption acts, Justice and Human Rights Minister Vicente Zeballos affirmed Thursday.

In this sense, the official underlined plea bargain deals are regulated by the Code of Criminal Procedure and recalled that the accord with the Brazilian construction company was inked within the framework of Law 30737 approved by Congress

Likewise, he indicated it is necessary for the Inca country's sectors to join forces in order to fight corruption, which he deemed as an endemic and structural problem.

Some members of the opposition believe this agreement gives unjustified benefits to Odebrecht and demand it to be annulled. 

However, the Executive Branch, Public Ministry, and Anticorruption Attorney's Office consider this accord will enable the sanction of the people who committed corruption crimes, as well as grant civil reparations to the Peruvian State

In Peru, the Public Ministry is independent from the Executive Branch.

Remarks were made during an interpellation session at Congress. 

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. 

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/DTK/MVB

Published: 3/21/2019