Politics

Trial of former Peruvian President Alejandro Toledo to begin October 16

Lima, Sept 11 (EFE).- The trial for alleged corruption against former Peruvian President Alejandro Toledo (2001-2006) will begin on October 16, six months after his extradition from the United States, judicial sources said on Monday.

Although the start of the hearings for the alleged collusion and money laundering crimes was initially scheduled for Monday, it was rescheduled for October 16 and 17 at 9:00 a.m.

Initially, the Second Collegiate Criminal Court had decided that the trial against Toledo and six other defendants for the alleged bribes from the Brazilian company Odebrecht would be conducted remotely.

However, the National Superior Court of Justice reported that the trial will now be in person at its headquarters in the historic center of Lima. Toledo, however, will be connected from the Barbadillo prison.

“The defendants who fail to appear without justification will be declared in contempt,” the court warned.

The postponement was decided “to contribute to the effective and proper completion of the trial phase” since it is a case with a “voluminous file,” with more than 220 notebooks and 50 additional volumes.

Also, the prosecution and Toledo’s defense “have not yet complied with their obligation to provide the means of evidence.”

This point was noted on Friday by the Second Criminal Court, presided over by Judge Zaida Pérez, who reported in a letter that “it has not been possible to complete the formation of the judicial file” because the Public Ministry, the Attorney General’s Office, and the defense requested an extension of the deadline for the delivery of evidence.”

She also indicated that the delivery of evidence by the Public Ministry was completed on August 28 and that the Attorney General’s Office and the defense of Toledo “have not complied with providing the required documentation within the requested time.”

In this case, along with Toledo, six other defendants will be prosecuted, including Fernando Camet Piccone and José Castillo Dibós, for whom the prosecution is requesting 20 years and six months in prison, same as for the former president.

For the defendants Sergio Bravo Orellana, Alberto Pasco Font, and Avraham Dan On, it is requesting nine years in prison, and for Gonzalo Ferraro Rey, 11 years and six months.

Toledo was extradited in April to be prosecuted for allegedly receiving 34 million dollars (about 31.7 million euros) from Odebrecht to award it several sections in the construction of the South Interoceanic Highway, in addition to another case of real estate purchases through the Ecoteva company.

His wife, Eliane Karp, who had been living with him in the United States, traveled to Israel in May despite a request for her arrest and national and international arrest warrants.

In 2013, the State Attorney’s Office opened an investigation into an alleged money laundering case following the purchase of several properties in the name of Karp’s mother, Eva Fernerburg, and through the company Ecoteva.

The prosecution accused Toledo of receiving bribes in exchange for the concession of sections 2 and 3 of the Interoceanic Highway, believing that part of that money was transferred to Ecoteva and used to purchase the properties. EFE

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