PERU EX-PRESIDENT, PREDECESSORS UNDER INVESTIGATION OVER BRIBES
LIMA: Prosecutors in Peru on Sunday opened an investigation into allegations that three former presidents took bribes disguised as campaign funds from Odebrecht, a Brazilian construction giant at the centre of region-wide political scandals.
Prosecutors said former presidents Alejandro Toledo, Pedro Pablo Kuczynski and Alan Garcia all took undeclared campaign contribution in exchange for pledges to have Odebrecht win local tenders.
Prosecutor Jose Domingo Perez opened a preliminary investigation of money laundering against the trio, as well as three individuals close to each of them, according to a statement from his office.
Prosecutors had previously announced they were investigating former president Ollanta Humala for allegedly taking US$3 million (RM11.9 million) in bribes from Odebrecht.
The four ex-presidents led Peru between 2000 and this year.
The investigation stems from questioning of Brazilian Jorge Barata, a former Odebrecht boss in Peru.
He told investigators that he doled out millions of dollars to Peruvian presidential candidates between 2001 and 2016.
In the 2011 elections, Barata said Odebrecht gave money to four candidates: US$1.2 million to opposition leader Keiko Fujimori, daughter of former president Alberto Fujimori; US$700,000 to Toledo; and US$300,000 to Kuczynski.
He said political aide Luis Alva Castro, who was close to Garcia’s campaign, received more than US$200,000.
Keiko Fujimori is not directly under investigation, but two of her senior 2011 campaign aides are.
The suspects have all claimed innocence, and on Sunday Alan Garcia took to Twitter to lash out at prosecutors.
“For the sixth time in five years I am being investigated,” Garcia wrote.
“Others sell out, not me.”