Peru asks for global help to find former president.
Peru added former President Alejandro Toledo to its list of most wanted criminals on Friday after a judge issued an international arrest warrant over allegations that he received $20 million in bribes from Odebrecht; the Interior Ministry offered the equivalent of $30 for any information leading to his capture and asked Interpol to issue a red notice.
By Mitra Taj
LIMA (Reuters) - Peru added former President Alejandro Toledo to its list of most wanted criminals on Friday after a judge issued an international arrest warrant over allegations that he received $20 million in bribes from Brazilian construction company Odebrecht.
The Interior Ministry offered the equivalent of $30 for any information leading to his capture and asked Interpol to quickly issue a red notice to help locate him.
"Anyone in the world who can help us find him can claim the reward," Peruvian Interior Minister Carlos Basombrio told local television network Canal N.
"Peru does not deserve to see another president flee from justice," Basombrio added.
Toledo came to power denouncing the widespread corruption in the government of his predecessor, Alberto Fujimori, who fled to Japan amid a high-profile corruption scandal in 2000. Fujimori is currently serving a 25-year prison sentence in Peru for corruption and human rights abuses committed during a decade of authoritarian rule.
Toledo was not convicted of any crime, but on Thursday a judge ruled that the evidence uncovered so far justifies detaining him for up to 18 months while charges of influence peddling and money laundering are prepared against him.
The former president denied any wrongdoing, and his last known whereabouts were in France, which has an extradition treaty with Lima.
Toledo's lawyer, Heriberto Benítez, denied that his client was a fugitive and told Reuters that he was awaiting the results of an appeal. Benítez refused to say where Toledo is, citing a confidentiality agreement between them.
After the judge's decision, made late Thursday, Benítez said he would recommend to Toledo that he not return to Peru because of the justice system, which he described as "vindictive."
The Minister of Justice, Marisol Perez Tello, guaranteed that Toledo will have a fair trial.
Some Peruvians have been speculating that Toledo may have traveled to Israel, where a longtime friend, Israeli businessman Yosef Maiman, is believed to live.
Israel has not signed an extradition treaty with Peru.
Prosecutors allege that Toledo made a deal with Odebrecht to help the construction company obtain two lucrative highway contracts in exchange for bribes, which he requested be deposited into accounts held by companies in tax havens controlled by Maiman. Approximately $10 million in transfers from Odebrecht to Maiman's companies have been located.
Maiman did not respond to requests for comment.