The money laundering trial against former Peruvian presidential candidate Keiko Fujimori, in the Odebrecht scandal, the Brazilian construction company that admitted to paying bribes to numerous politicians in South America, opened Monday in Lima.
A team of magistrates investigated for six years before returning the daughter of former President Alberto Fujimori (1990-2000), pardoned in December 2023 after serving 16 years in prison for crimes against humanity.
Some 45 other people are being prosecuted, including Ms Fujimori’s ex-husband and former leaders of the Fuerza Popular party, the main Peruvian right-wing party that she leads, in this lengthy trial that is expected to last more than a year.
Prosecutors suspect Keiko Fujimori, 49, a three-time unsuccessful presidential candidate, of financing her 2011 and 2016 campaigns with Odebrecht money that was not declared in her accounts. Sentenced for money laundering, obstruction of justice and making a false declaration in an administrative procedure, she faces up to 30 years in prison.
According to the prosecution, the Brazilian construction company paid Ms Fujimori $1.2 million as part of a bribery scheme that was implemented throughout Latin America in exchange for public contracts.
Ms Fujimori has always maintained her innocence and has already served 16 months in pre-trial detention.
“This case has no legal future and will end in an acquittal,” according to his lawyer, Giulliana Loza. She argues that the money spent on the electoral campaigns was paid legally by Odebrecht.
The outcome of the trial will determine Ms Fujimori’s political future ahead of the next presidential election in 2026.
Peru is the country most affected by the Odebrecht scandal, after Brazil, and four former Peruvian presidents were implicated between 2001 and 2016.
Former Odebrecht executives have admitted in different proceedings to having distributed millions of dollars to Pedro Pablo Kuczynski (2016-2018), Ollanta Humala (2011-2016), Alan Garcia (1985-1990 and 2006-2011) and Alejandro Toledo (2001-2006).
About to be arrested in connection with this case, former President Garcia committed suicide in April 2019.
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