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Peru Prosecutor: Ex-First Lady may have favored Odebrecht

11:13 | Lima, Jul. 9.

Peru's Ex-First Lady Nadine Heredia —wife of former President Ollanta Humala— is under investigation for allegedly having favored Odebrecht with the Southern Gas Pipeline (Gasoducto del Sur) Project, Lava Jato Case Special Prosecution Group member Geovanna Mori affirmed Tuesday.

According to Mori, the Prosecutor's Office "relies on statements made by protected witnesses and collaborators, who link her (Heredia) to conversations with high-ranking officers of Odebrecht."

In this sense, the prosecutor indicated the probe does not include ex-President Humala, as he has immunity for being a former Head of State.

However, the Attorney General currently investigates Humala.

Likewise, she pointed out the raids —carried out at 26 properties— are aimed at collecting evidence to find the links to the alleged bribe paid for the Southern Gas Pipeline.

Furthermore, she mentioned there are three law firms among those properties.

Magistrates and members of the National Police's High Complexity Investigations Division (Diviac) —led by Prosecutor Mori— raid the house of Heredia, who is accompanied by her attorneys.

Odebrecht

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. The accord did not include the Southern Gas Pipeline project.

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— allegedly received money from Odebrecht for her 2011 campaign.

Ex Lima Mayor Susana Villaran also admitted that Odebrecht and OAS had financed an anti-recall campaign during her tenure between 2011 and 2014. She currently serves a 24-month preventive detention.

(END) FHG/CCR/DTK/MVB

Published: 7/9/2019

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Peru Prosecutor: Ex-First Lady may have favored Odebrecht

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