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Peru Prosecutor: OAS ex-Chairman is willing to collaborate without restrictions

Photo: AFP

12:57 | Curitiba (Brazil), Jul. 9.

Lava Jato Case Special Prosecution Group Coordinator Rafael Vela on Tuesday affirmed OAS construction company's ex-Chairman Leo Pinheiro is willing to collaborate with the team, without any restrictions during the interrogation, in which he will be asked about his links to ex-Lima Mayor Luis Castañeda (2003-2010; 2015-2018) and other cases under investigation.

Recently, Pinheiro revealed OAS had delivered US$200,000 to Castañeda's re-election campaign through Solidaridad Nacional political party officer Martin Bustamante.

On July 5, Peru's Judiciary ordered an 18-month travel ban against former Lima Mayor Luis Castañeda, within the framework of an investigation related to alleged corruption offenses with OAS. Other five people involved in the case —including Bustamante— are also prohibited from leaving Peru.

Furthermore, Vela indicated that —although a second day of interrogations had been scheduled— they will not be carried out due to complications with the Brazilian Prosecutor's Office's schedule.

Sao Paulo

Likewise, Vela informed more classified interrogations will take place in Sao Paulo.

"These will be held as the result of effective collaboration, not with Mr. Pinheiro, but with other candidates. I cannot be specific (on that matter)," Vela expressed.

Concerning the raids at ex-First Lady Nadine Heredia's home and other properties, the prosecutor pointed out these measures are part of the Prosecutor's Office's work and the activation of the collaboration agreement signed with the Odebrecht company.

The interrogation took place in Curitiba, Brazil.

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) RSJ/CCR/DTK/MVB

Published: 7/9/2019

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Peru Prosecutor: OAS ex-Chairman is willing to collaborate without restrictions

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