LIMA, March 23 (NNN-ANDINA) — Prime Minister Salvador del Solar has affirmed Justice Minister Vicente Zeballos’ presentation to Congress was impeccable, adding Peru deserves to know the truth about the Odebrecht case in order to defeat corruption.
Via Twitter, the official expressed his gratitude towards Zeballos for answering the 21 questions during an interpellation session regarding the Odebrecht agreement.
On Thursday, Zeballos affirmed the collaboration agreement signed among Peru’s Public Ministry, Anticorruption Attorney’s Office and Odebrecht will enable the identification of the people responsible for corruption acts.
Likewise, he ruled out Peruvian President Martin Vizcarra’s participation and decision-making capacity regarding said accord.
In Peru, the Public Ministry is independent from the Executive Branch.
In mid-February, Peru’s Lava Jato Case Special Prosecution Group signed the long-awaited collaboration agreement with Odebrecht representativesand former employees in Brazil.
This deal is 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— also allegedly received money from Odebrecht for her 2011 campaign.
Odebrecht will pay S/610 million (around US$182 million) —plus interests that may arise— in civil reparations to the Peruvian State over a period of 15 years as part of this agreement. — NNN-ANDINA