Andina

Peru Attorney: Odebrecht representative statement supports fictitious contract theory

14:36 | Curitiba (Brazil), Feb. 18.

Peru's Lava Jato Case State Attorney Jorge Ramirez on Monday affirmed the statement given by Odebrecht representative Marcos de Queiroz Grillo supports the Public Ministry's theory which claims the contract for ex-President Alan Garcia's lecture in Brazil was fictitious.

Last Friday, Peru's Lava Jato Case Special Prosecution Group signed the long-awaited collaboration agreement with Odebrecht representatives and former employees in Brazil.

This deal is intended to procure evidence and testimonies for the investigation of corruption cases in the Andean nation.

"(…) I cannot disclose the details, but it is clear that the contract was fictitious, and subsequently processed," the State Attorney told reporters following the audience.

Grillo has been identified as the representative of the Division of Structured Operations (also known as Box Two), meaning the construction company's bribery department. 

However, Ramirez indicated the next step is to determine the origins and lawfulness of the money given to Garcia for the aforementioned lecture. 

According to investigative journalism site IDL-Reporteros, businessman Jose Americo Vieira Spinola had been the intermediary between the sum from Box Two (US$100,000) and Garcia

Likewise, Ramirez pointed out more interrogatories will take place to consolidate the evidence and theories concerning this case.

It should be noted Spinola was also scheduled to testify, but could not do so due to health problems. 

Thus, his statement will be taken in March, alongside that of former Odebrecht representative in Peru, Jorge Barata

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: 2/18/2019