The Peruvian Prosecutor's Office confirmed this Tuesday that it is investigating former Peruvian president Martín Vizcarra (2018-2020) as the alleged leader of a criminal network called “The untouchables of corruption”, five of whose possible members were arrested by the Police and the Public Ministry.
“They would belong to the alleged criminal organization 'The Untouchables of Corruption', which would be led by Martín Vizcarraand they would have carried out acts of corruption, between March 2018 and December 2020, to take over positions for illicit purposes,” the Prosecutor's Office said in a message published on the X social network.
He added that the operation is in charge of the Special Team against Corruption of Power (Eficcop), made up of prosecutors and agents of the National Police of Peru (PNP), led by prosecutor Marita Barreto.
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The procedure was carried out by the provincial prosecutor José Luis Quispe and included the search of eleven homes and the seizure of six movable and immovable property in Lima and the southern city of Moqueguafrom which Vizcarra is a native.
Previously, General Óscar Arriola, chief of staff of the PNP, confirmed that three of the detainees were officials of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MTC) and that the operation is still confidential and no further information can be offered.
Special Team against Corruption of Power, made up of prosecutors and PNP agents, led by prosecutor Marita Barreto, carries out the preliminary arrest of Carlos Revilla Loayza, Hugo Meneses Cornejo, Juan Enciso Torres and Alcides Villafuerte Vizcarra. pic.twitter.com/IOizYkW6gw
— Public Ministry (@FiscaliaPeru) January 30, 2024
Local media reported that among those arrested was Carlos Revilla, who was head of Provías Descentralizado (PVD), an MTC body, during the Vizcarra government, as well as another former senior official, two members of bidding committees and a businessman.
Television Channel N published the document with the statement of a justice collaborator who stated that Vizcarra and his wife are linked to an alleged bribery network.
In response, the former ruler declared on the Radio Exitosa station that this accusation is a “hoax” that seeks to harm him politically.
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“I have no doubt that in a very short time this hoax is going to fall, that the only objective it has is to harm me because they have me as a serious political rival,” he said.
Vizcarra added that he is confident that “these investigations will reach the truth” and said that he will not “in any way” allow the accusations that he received bribes to continue.
I have no doubt that in a very short time this hoax will fall.
In this case, Eficcop is investigating three contracts that PVD granted during Revilla's management, for a total amount greater than 274 million soles (71.9 million dollars or 66.3 million euros).
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After learning of the operation, the MTC stated in a statement that it “soundly rejects any act of corruption” and has ordered that “all agencies involved provide facilities” to Eficcop and Diviac for the collection of information.
He also announced that Decentralized Provías has been declared in a “comprehensive reorganization.”
EFE
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