The trial against Keiko Fujimori for “money laundering” in the Odebrecht case has begun in Peru

Former Peruvian presidential candidate Keiko Fujimori took the stand on Monday at the opening of her trial for money laundering within the Odebrecht scandal, and for which she could be sentenced to up to 30 years in prison.

For the past six years, the special team of “Lava Jato” prosecutors investigated the daughter of elderly former President Alberto Fujimori, who was pardoned in December 2023 while serving a sentence for human rights violations.

With Keiko present, the oral trial began early in the morning in a Lima court.

“My name is Keiko Sofia Fujimori Higuchi (…) I work as President of the Fuerza Popular party and earn 14,000 soles a month (around 3,600 dollars)“, said the influential politician.

The trial – in which some 1,500 witnesses are called – It could take more than a yearThe prosecutor in the case, José Domingo Pérez, arrived at the hearing wearing a bulletproof vest and under heavy guard.

The Peruvian prosecution concluded that Fujimori He financed his 2011 and 2016 campaigns with money from Odebrecht that he did not declare.

According to the indictment, the Brazilian construction company He gave 1.2 million dollars to Fujimori within the bribery scheme that he set up around Latin America in exchange for contracts.

Outside the courthouse, some 80 supporters gathered, shouting “Justice yes, revenge no! Keiko is innocent.”

“We came to defend the innocence of our leader Keiko Fujimori“This trial lacks seriousness,” Sadith Lopez, 57, told AFP.

Police intervened to prevent clashes with a small group of opponents of the leader.

The plot of the Odebrecht corruption scandal in Peru It has also affected four former presidents of the country, between 2001 and 2016.

At 49 years old and leader of Fuerza Popular, Peru’s main right-wing party, Fujimori has always proclaimed his innocence. During the investigations, has served 16 months of preventive detention.

Keiko Fujimori is accused of money laundering, organized crime, obstruction of justice, falsehood and false statement in an administrative proceeding.

Although contributions to foreign companies’ campaigns were permitted at the time, the prosecutor’s office prosecuted the Peruvian politician for not having declared the income from Odebrecht.

The prosecution is asking for 30 years and 10 months in prison for the three-time Peruvian presidential candidate.

“The attitude of the prosecutors has been politically motivated, to affect my image“because they asked to suspend the Fuerza Popular party,” Fujimori said on Sunday in an interview with Channel N.

In the same cause There are 45 other defendantsincluding her ex-husband, Italian-American Mark Vito Villanella, and former leaders of the Fujimori party.

If found guilty and the trial concludes before 2026, Keiko Fujimori will not be able to run in that year’s elections.

“This case has no legal future, it will end in an acquittal,” said Giulliana Loza, Fujimori’s lawyer.

The defense claims that the money for which they intend to sanction Fujimori It is of legal originso “it is not money laundering,” according to Loza.

Former Odebrecht bosses said they handed out millions of dollars to Peruvian politicians, including Fujimori and four former presidents: Pedro Pablo Kuczynski (2018-2016), Ollanta Humala (2011-2016), Alan Garcia (1985-1990 y 2006-2011) y Alejandro Toledo (2001-2006).

When he was going to be arrested within the investigations, Former President García committed suicide with a firearm.

With weak institutions and political parties in crisis, Peru is the country hardest hit by the Odebrecht scandal, after Brazil.

Currently the Peruvian judicial system is prosecuting former presidents Humala and Toledo in parallel.

The prosecutor in the case had requested in 2020 that Fuerza Popular be banned as a political party, claiming that it was a “criminal organization.”

The court rejected this, allowing him to compete in the last general elections in 2021 and win 24 seats in Congress out of a total of 130.

Fujimorism is the main force in the fragmented Congresswhich he controls together with other right-wing groups.

Keiko Fujimori’s party has opposed opposition calls for President Dina Boluarte to be subjected to impeachment proceedings.