Peruvian prosecutor fires two investigators working on the Odebrecht case.
Peru's Attorney General, Pedro Chavarry, dismissed two key prosecutors on Monday who were investigating allegations of bribery by Odebrecht involving public officials, politicians, and even former presidents in exchange for winning public works contracts.
LIMA (Reuters) - Peru's Attorney General, Pedro Chavarry, on Monday dismissed two senior prosecutors who were investigating allegations that Odebrecht paid bribes to public officials, politicians and even former presidents to win bids for public works projects.
Following the announcement, President Martín Vizcarra expressed his rejection of the decision by the head of the Public Prosecutor's Office. Chavarry, in a press interview, announced the dismissal of Chief Prosecutor Rafael Vela from his position as coordinator of the task force investigating allegations stemming from Operation Lava Jato, and of Prosecutor José Pérez, who is part of the same team, for allegedly not respecting the hierarchy of the Public Prosecutor's Office.
Vela and Pérez will be replaced by promoters Frank Almanza and Marcial Paucar, respectively.
“After his appointment, Prosecutor Pérez began questioning my selection, which had been made unanimously by the supreme prosecutors, and this behavior was repeated in different circumstances and locations, a fact that affects not only me but also the autonomy of the Public Prosecutor's Office,” said Chavarry.
"This behavior was endorsed by coordinator Vela Barba," added the attorney general.
Meanwhile, Vizcarra said on his Twitter account that "in light of these new events, I have decided to bring forward my return to the country to continue leading the fight against corruption and impunity." Vizcarra had traveled to Brazil to attend the inauguration of President-elect Jair Bolsonaro.
The Attorney General's decision comes after the two prosecutors reached a collaboration agreement with Odebrecht, which includes the payment of a multimillion-dollar civil damages fine by the construction company and its cooperation in investigations against politicians and officials who allegedly received bribes.
Vela and Pérez, who enjoy broad public support, recently investigated Odebrecht's ties to former president Alan García and to Fuerza Popular leader Keiko Fujimori.
Furthermore, the prosecution team is in charge of the investigation against former presidents Pedro Pablo Kuczynski and Alejandro Toledo Ollanta Humala for allegedly receiving illegal investments from the Brazilian company.
Last week, prosecutor Pérez accused Chavarry of allegedly obstructing justice in a case involving Fujimori and the Attorney General himself, who is also being investigated along with a network of judges accused of corruption.
Civil organizations announced protests against the Attorney General; while politicians from various parties expressed rejection of the decision, which they say compromises the recent collaboration agreement with Odebrecht.
“We regret the Public Prosecutor’s decision. We believe it is inappropriate, since we are about to sign the final agreement (with Odebrecht) on January 11th” in Brazil, said the prosecutor in the case, Jorge Ramirez, to Peru’s Canal N.