Peru Probes Ex-President Kuczynski for Alleged Vote Buying

(Bloomberg) -- Peru’s Attorney General Pedro Chavarry opened a preliminary investigation into former president Pedro Pablo Kuczynski and current vice president, Mercedes Araoz, for alleged vote buying to avoid impeachment, the office said in a post on Twitter.

The Attorney General claims Kuczynski, Araoz and lawmakers Carlos Bruce, Marvin Palma, Maritza Garcia and Lucio Avila committed bribery, influence trafficking and belonging to a criminal organization causing damage to the state. Former agriculture minister Jose Arista is also being investigated for alleged bribery in the case.

Kuczynski resigned in March ahead of a second impeachment vote, brought down by the continent-wide Carwash bribery scandal. The former president previously said accusations of vote buying were “a big lie.”

Prosecutors say Chavarry, who began a three-year term as attorney general in July, may be part of a group that negotiated judicial appointments in exchange for cash and favors, El Comercio reported on August 31.

Por la presunta compra de votos para evitar vacancia de PPK, la tarde del viernes 21 de setiembre, el Fiscal de la Nación, Pedro Chávarry abrió investigación preliminar contra Pedro Pablo Kuzcynski, Mercedes Aráoz, Carlos Bruce, Marvín Palma, Maritza García y Lucio Ávila. (1/4) pic.twitter.com/kKE7VBlAYo

To contact the reporter on this story: Jose Orozco in Mexico City at jorozco8@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: David Glovin at dglovin@bloomberg.net, Joe Schneider

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