LIMA, July 10 (NNN-ANDINA) — Peru’s Lava Jato Case Special Prosecution Group on Tuesday morning raided the home of former First Lady Nadine Heredia —wife of ex-President Ollanta Humala— in Lima’s Surco district, as well as on other 25 properties linked to the investigation on the Southern Gas Pipeline (Gasoducto del Sur).
Magistrates and members of the National Police’s High Complexity Investigations Division (Diviac) participated in the operation led by Prosecutor Geovanna Mori.
Heredia’s attorney Wilfredo Pedraza arrived at her house and said that his client would cooperate with the search. However, the lawyer deemed the measure as arbitrary.
Mori currently investigates the alleged bribe payments —made by Odebrecht— for the awarding of the Southern Gas Pipeline (Gasoducto del Sur) during ex-President Ollanta Humala’s term in office (2011-2016).
According to IDL-Reporteros, the homes of former Energy and Mines Minister Rosa Maria Ortiz and ex-Deputy Energy and Mines Minister Luis Ortigas were also raided.
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. — NNN-ANDINA
