International arrest warrant issued for 70-year-old Toledo over claims he took bribes from construction giant Odebrecht

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This article is more than 2 years old

A judge in Peru has ordered the arrest of ex-president Alejandro Toledo while prosecutors prepare criminal charges against the former leader for allegedly receiving $20m in bribes from the Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht in return for granting a lucrative contract to build a transoceanic highway between Brazil and the Peruvian coast.

Judge Richard Concepcion ordered 18 months “preventive” prison and issued both a national and international arrest warrant for Toledo, 70, on Thursday. The ex-president, who was in France last week, has angrily denied any wrongdoing when interviewed by Peruvian journalists. His lawyer said he would not flee but declined to say what country he was in.

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Observers said the warrant marked the nadir of a precipitous fall from grace for Toledo, a one-time pro-democracy activist who headed street protests against the authoritarian former president Alberto Fujimori and pledged to clamp down on rampant corruption when he took office from 2001 to 2006. Fujimori is serving a 25-year jail sentence for human rights crimes, embezzlement and bribing the media. Many Peruvians are shocked that one of his leading adversaries could join him behind bars if found guilty.

Earlier this week, Peru’s attorney general’s office formally charged Toledo with asset laundering and influence trafficking. The move came after police and prosecutors raided his home in Lima on the weekend, seizing documents, videos, mobiles phones and more than $30,000 in cash.

Prosecutors allege the payments to Toledo were made through his friend Josef Maiman, a Peruvian-Israeli businessman who was also being investigated along with Odebrecht’s former boss in the country, Jorge Barata, whose testimony implicates the former president.

Toledo, who came eighth in an electoral bid last year, said the charges had been orchestrated by his “traditional enemies”. However, he said he would return to be Peru if he could be guaranteed a fair trial.

The president of Peru, Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, who served as Toledo’s economy minister and prime minister, urged the former leader to return home.

The attorney general’s office is also investigating two more former presidents, Alan García (2006-11) and Ollanta Humala (2011-16) for allegedly having received bribes as part of the widening Odebrecht scandal.

Gustavo Gorriti, a leading investigative journalist and pro-democracy campaigner, told local radio: “Toledo ended his government like the protagonist of a film about gangsters, who robbed and used power like a masquerade for what they really wanted.”

“Having been handed the noblest possible mandate he betrayed it the most vile way imaginable,” he added.

Gorriti who leads IDL-Reporteros, an investigative reporting outfit, told the Guardian the Odebrecht scandal could be “the biggest case of corruption in the history of Latin America”.

It is estimated that Odebrecht paid out more than $730m in bribes across 12 countries in Latin America, according to a journalistic investigation.</s>LIMA, Peru—A judge on Thursday ordered the arrest of former Peruvian President Alejandro Toledo as part of a regionwide corruption scandal tied to Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht SA.

Judge Richard Concepción said evidence presented by prosecutors pointed to a “high degree of probability” that Mr. Toledo allegedly took bribes from...</s>A judge has ordered the arrest of Peru’s former president Alejandro Toledo for allegedly taking US$ 20 million in bribes from Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht.

The attorney general’s office announced Thursday on Twitter that Toledo will be given 18 months of “preventative” prison, and a judge has issued national and international warrants for his arrest.

Prosecutors are set to bring criminal charges against the ex-president for allegedly taking millions in bribes to grant Odebrecht a lucrative contract to build a highway between Peru and Brazil, media reported.

Prosecutors say that the bribes were paid to Toledo through a proxy, Josef Maiman, a Peruvian-Israeli businessman and friend of the former president.

Currently in Paris, Toledo has denied these accusations claiming they are part of a "political lynching coming from my traditional enemies."

He said he will return to Peru if he can be guaranteed a fair trial.

The current president of Peru, Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, who served under Toledo has urged him to return home.

Earlier this week Peru’s attorney general brought formal charges against Toldeo for asset laundering and influence peddling after raiding his home in Lima over the weekend.

The attorney general is also investigating two other former presidents—Alan García (2006-11) and Ollanta Humala (2011-16)—as well as Odebrecht’s former boss in Peru, Jorge Barata, whose testimony implicated Toledo.

According to the United States Department of Justice, Odebrecht has pleaded guilty and agreed in December to pay between US$ 2.6 billion and US$ 4.5 billion in a settlement with authorities in the United States, Brazil and Switzerland for paying almost US$ 800 million in bribes to government officials around the world.

In Peru, Odebrecht admitted to paying US$ 29 million to secure contracts from officials from 2005 to 2014.</s>A Peruvian judge has issued a national and international arrest warrant for former President Alejandro Toledo for allegedly taking $20 million in bribes from Brazilian construction company Odebrecht.

A reward of more than US$30,000 was announced Friday for information leading to his whereabouts.

He was in Paris for a meeting earlier in the week and is a visiting scholar at Stanford University in California.

Judge Richard Concepcion accepted prosecutors’ request Toledo be jailed for up to 18 months as they investigate allegations he received the money in exchange for permission to build a highway connecting Brazil with the Peruvian coast.

The judge said a red alert had been sent to the international police agency Interpol for his arrest “wherever he is.”

Toledo, who was president from 2001-2006, has denied any wrongdoing.

Police searched Toledo’s home in Lima on Saturday. The 70-year-old former president has said would return to Peru as long as he could be assured of a fair trial.

“Say when, how and where and in what bank they’ve given me $20 million,” an angry Toledo said in an interview with a local radio station over the weekend.

If Toledo is jailed in Peru, he would join Alberto Fujimori as the country’s second former president behind bars.

Odebrecht has admitted to paying almost $800 million in bribes to governments across Latin America as part of a December plea agreement with the U.S. Justice Department.

In Peru, they acknowledged paying $29 million for projects built during the government of Toledo and two successors.

The alleged payments were believed to have been made through Toledo’s friend, Peruvian-Israeli businessman Josef Maiman, who prosecutors say they are also investigating along with the Odebrecht’s former boss in the country, whose testimony triggered the probe.

The AP contributed to this report.</s>A Peruvian judge has ordered the arrest of former President Alejandro Toledo on suspicions of taking bribes from a Brazilian construction firm at the heart of a region-wide corruption scandal.

Judge Richard Concepcion accepted prosecutors’ request that Toledo be jailed as they investigate allegations he received $20 million in bribes from Odebrecht in exchange for permission to build a highway connecting Brazil with the Peruvian coast.

Toledo is in Paris and in media interviews from abroad has denied any wrongdoing.

Odebrecht has admitted to paying almost $800 million in bribes to governments across Latin America as part of a December plea agreement with the U.S. Justice Department. In Peru, they acknowledged paying $29 million for projects built during the government of Toledo and two successors.</s>FILE - In this March 17, 2011 file photo, Peru's former President Alejandro Toledo campaigns for reelection at the Santa Anita wholesale market in Lima, Peru. A Peruvian judge ordered Toledo's arrest on Thursday, Feb. 9, 2017 on suspicions of taking bribes from a Brazilian construction firm at the heart of a region-wide corruption scandal. (AP Photo/Karel Navarro, File)

LIMA, Peru (AP) — A Peruvian judge on Thursday ordered the arrest of former President Alejandro Toledo on suspicion of taking bribes from a Brazilian construction company at the heart of a region-wide corruption scandal.

Judge Richard Concepcion accepted prosecutors' request Toledo be jailed for up to 18 months as they investigate allegations he received $20 million in bribes from Odebrecht in exchange for permission to build a highway connecting Brazil with the Peruvian coast.

Toledo, who was president from 2001-2006, has denied any wrongdoing. He is believed to be abroad. He was in Paris for a meeting earlier in the week and is a visiting scholar at Stanford University in California.

The judge said a red alert had been sent to the international police agency Interpol for his arrest "wherever he is."

"Even though he has been president, he must be subject to the law," said Concepcion, adding that there is "a high degree of probability" he was involved in money laundering and influence peddling, including "selling the (highway) work) in exchange for a sum of money."

Police searched Toledo's home in Lima on Saturday. The 70-year-old former president has said would return to Peru as long as he could be assured of a fair trial.

"Say when, how and where and in what bank they've given me $20 million," an angry Toledo said in an interview with a local radio station over the weekend.

If Toledo is jailed in Peru, he would join Alberto Fujimori as the country's second former president behind bars.

Odebrecht has admitted to paying almost $800 million in bribes to governments across Latin America as part of a December plea agreement with the U.S. Justice Department. In Peru, they acknowledged paying $29 million for projects built during the government of Toledo and two successors.

The alleged payments were believed to have been made through Toledo's friend, Peruvian-Israeli businessman Josef Maiman, who prosecutors say they are also investigating along with the Odebrecht's former boss in the country, whose testimony triggered the probe.

Authorities throughout Latin America have been moving fast to charge officials accused of taking bribes from Odebrecht, but Toledo is the first ex-president to face an arrest warrant.

Toledo's lawyer, Heriberto Benitez, said he would appeal the decision and denounce the case to the Inter-American Court of Human Rights.

Benitez had told the judge the preventative arrest order against his client wasn't merited because of the "guarantee that he will present himself for the legal process."</s>Toledo is accused of receiving $20m in bribes from construction company Odebrecht, an allegation he denies.

A Peruvian court has issued an international warrant for the arrest of ex-President Alejandro Toledo on suspicions of taking bribes from a Brazilian construction giant at the heart of a region-wide corruption scandal.

Judge Richard Concepcion late on Thursday (local time) accepted a request by prosecutors that Toledo be jailed as they investigate allegations he received $20m in bribes from Odebrecht in exchange for permission to build a highway connecting Brazil with the Peruvian coast.

The order calls on Toledo to be placed under "preventative custody" for 18 months, while demanding for his "immediate location, capture and confinement."

Toledo, who is believed to be in the French capital, Paris, has denied any wrongdoing.

"Say when, how and where and in what bank they've given me $20m," Toledo said in an interview with a local radio station over the weekend.

Odebrecht, once Latin America's biggest construction company, has admitted to paying almost $800m in bribes to governments across the region as part of a December plea agreement with the US justice department.

In Peru, the company acknowledged paying $29m for projects built during the government of Toledo and two successors.

Toledo, a former World Bank economist, served as Peru's president from 2001 to 2006.

In 2010 he sought the presidency anew but failed to make it to the second round of voting.

The scandal also threatens to implicate Toledo's successors: Alan Garcia and Ollanta Humala.

Garcia has denied any wrongdoing in recent weeks as authorities have arrested several accused of taking bribes from Odebrecht during his 2006-2011 government.

Aside from Peru, several countries in Latin America, including Panama, Mexico, Argentina and Uruguay, are carrying out investigations into bribes paid by Odebrecht.

In Panama, a former personal adviser to President Juan Carlos Varela on Thursday said on his former boss had accepted campaign donations from Odebrecht.</s>LIMA, Peru — A Peruvian judge on Thursday ordered the arrest of former President Alejandro Toledo on suspicion of taking bribes from a Brazilian construction company at the heart of a region-wide corruption scandal.

Judge Richard Concepcion accepted prosecutors' request that Toledo be jailed as they investigate allegations he received $20 million in bribes from Odebrecht in exchange for permission to build a highway connecting Brazil with the Peruvian coast.

Toledo, who was president from 2001-2006, has denied any wrongdoing in the past. He is believed to be abroad. He recently attended a meeting in Paris and is a visiting scholar at Stanford University in California.

The judge said a red alert had been sent to the international police agency Interpol for his arrest "wherever he is."

Odebrecht has admitted to paying almost $800 million in bribes to governments across Latin America as part of a December plea agreement with the U.S. Justice Department. In Peru, they acknowledged paying $29 million for projects built during the government of Toledo and two successors.

The alleged payments were believed to have been made through Toledo's friend, Peruvian-Israeli businessman Josef Maiman, who prosecutors say they are also investigating along with the Odebrecht's former boss in the country, whose testimony triggered the probe.

The moves came after police searched Toledo's home in Lima on Saturday.

The former president has said would return to Peru as long as he could be assured of a fair trial.

"Say when, how and where and in what bank they've given me $20 million," an angry Toledo said in an interview with a local radio station over the weekend.

Authorities in Peru and throughout Latin America have been moving fast to charge officials accused of taking bribes from Odebrecht. Toledo is the first former president to face an arrest warrant.</s>Lima: A Peruvian judge issued an international arrest warrant on Thursday for former president Alejandro Toledo and said he should spend up to 18 months in jail while prosecutors investigate him for allegedly taking $20 million (Dh73.46 million) in bribes from Brazilian builder Odebrecht SA.

Judge Richard Concepcion said evidence uncovered so far in a graft probe, including testimony from an Odebrecht executive and bank records, warranted putting Toledo in “preventive prison” while charges of influence peddling and money laundering were prepared.

In issuing an arrest warrant, Concepcion said Toledo appeared to have used the “high office of the presidency” to “make an illegal pact” to sell off a highway project that promised to integrate the region.

Toledo, who rose to power denouncing the corruption of his predecessor, has repeatedly denied taking bribes from Odebrecht.

Toledo was in France last week and absent from the hearing.

If found guilty, he could be sentenced to up to 15 years in prison, lead prosecutor Hamilton Castro said.

Toledo “laughed at Peruvian society, he laughed at the expectations Peruvian society had for ... clean public work projects,” Castro told the court hearing into the prosecutor’s request for “preventive prison” for Toledo.

Toledo’s attorney Heriberto Benitez accused the judge of having a “vengeance” and said he would appeal against the ruling.

“He can’t come back ... I wouldn’t recommend it,” Benitez told reporters. “With judges like this, careful!” The government of President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, who served as Toledo’s finance minister and prime minister a decade ago when the contracts were awarded, said it would offer a reward for information leading to Toledo’s capture if he did not turn himself in.

Odebrecht has been at the centre of a growing graft scandal in Latin America since admitting to doling out hundreds of millions of dollars in bribes from Peru to Panama.

The revelation, made in US courts in December, threatens to implicate presidents and former presidents who once promoted the hydroelectric plants, highways and irrigation canals that Odebrecht has built in the past two decades.

Toledo, a shoeshine boy turned economist who plays up his indigenous roots, inspired scores of Peruvians to vote for him in 2001 as an antidote to widespread graft in the government of Alberto Fujimori, who is now serving a 25-year prison sentence for corruption and human rights abuses.

Prosecutor Castro opened his case, that Toledo be jailed while investigations continue, quoting the Incan law “ama sua” or “do not steal.” He said Toledo met the head of Odebrecht Peru, Jorge Barata, in a luxury hotel in Rio de Janeiro in 2004 and promised to help the firm win two highway contracts in exchange for $35 million.

Odebrecht only paid $20 million because Toledo did not change the bidding terms to exclude competitors, Castro said, citing testimony from Barata. Toledo did, however, change laws to pave the way for Odebrecht’s bid and pressured the tendering committee to pick its proposal, Castro said.

Some $10 million in transfers from Odebrecht have been traced to offshore companies linked to Yosef Maiman, an Israeli businessman and longtime friend of Toledo tasked with receiving the bribes, Castro said.

Maiman did not respond immediately to requests for comment.

The contracts helped pave a highway from the Andes through the Amazon to connect Peru’s Pacific ports and Brazil’s Atlantic shores. Originally requiring an investment of $658 million, cost overruns pushed the final price tag for the two contracts to $1.34 billion, according to the comptroller.

Odebrecht and its junior partner on the projects, Peru’s biggest construction conglomerate, Grana y Montero, still maintain a 656km stretch of the highway.</s>A Peruvian judge issued an international arrest warrant on Thursday for former president Alejandro Toledo and said he should spend up to 18 months in jail while prosecutors investigate him for allegedly taking $20 million in bribes from Brazilian builder Odebrecht SA. Judge Richard Concepcion said evidence uncovered so far in a graft probe, including testimony from an Odebrecht executive and bank records, warranted putting Toledo in "preventive prison" while charges of influence peddling and money laundering were prepared.

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A judge in Peru issues an arrest warrant for former President Alejandro Toledo for allegedly receiving US$20 million in bribes from Odebrecht, a Brazilian construction company, in exchange for a contract deal to build a transoceanic highway between Brazil and the Peruvian coast. Toledo denies any wrongdoing.