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Peru Prosecutor: Attorney General is a danger to Public Ministry

11:08 | Lima, Jan. 4.

Lava Jato Case Prosecutor Jose Domingo Perez has affirmed Attorney General Pedro Chavarry must not remain in the post since he is a danger to the Public Ministry, adding he sold the institution to political interests.

In this sense, Perez urged prosecutors to stand firm and demand the resignation of Chavarry, not only as the Public Ministry head, but also as Supreme Prosecutor.

According to the official, the Attorney General must be removed from the Public Ministry since Chavarry —and the two prosecutors supporting him— have been linked to the Port's White Collars criminal organization and would form a majority in the Board of Supreme Prosecutors.

Likewise, Perez asked prosecutors not to listen to the diverse sectors that claim the bill —aimed at declaring the Public Ministry in state of emergency which was submitted by the Executive Branch to Congress— would affect the autonomy and independence of said organization.

"We cannot talk about autonomy and independence when the head of the institution has been acting as a tool of heads outside the institution, when he has been under the control of (political) interests seeking to hinder the investigation," the prosecutor added.

Furthermore, Perez informed the interrogation of Odebrecht officers in Brazil will not be held on the previously-agreed dates, due to the Attorney General's removal and subsequent reinstatement of Prosecutor Rafael Vela and him in the case.

In addition, he indicated Special Prosecution Group Coordinator Vela is arranging the new dates for the signing of the collaboration agreement with the Brazilian company.

Removal and reinstatement

Peruvian Attorney General Pedro Chavarry —on New Year's Eve— decided to remove Prosecutors Rafael Vela and Jose Domingo Perez from the case.

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

On January 2, Chavarry reversed his previous decision by reinstating Lava Jato Case Prosecutors Vela and Perez in their posts.

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 Prosecutors Vela and Perez in the case.

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: 1/4/2019

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Peru Prosecutor: Attorney General is a danger to Public Ministry

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