Peru: Second demonstration supports removed Lava Jato case prosecutors

10:52 | Lima, Jan. 2.

A second demonstration —aimed at supporting removed Prosecutors Rafael Vela and Jose Domingo Perez— took place in Lima's Jesus Maria district.

Hundreds of Peruvian citizens marched through Brazil Avenue on Tuesday evening and peacefully headed to the Ad Hoc Prosecutor's Office Headquarters, where Vela and Perez gave a press conference.

Outside the facilities, protestors sang the National Anthem and expressed their support for the prosecutors.

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

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

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) DTK/MVB

Published: 1/2/2019

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Peru: Second demonstration supports removed Lava Jato case prosecutors

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