Page 12 - ARUBA TODAY

A12 WORLD NEWS
Thursday 18 april 2019

Ex-Peru president kills himself as police try to arrest him

By FRANKLIN BRICEÑO him of taking more than
CHRISTINE ARMARIO $100,000 from the compa-
Associated Press ny. Odebrecht admitted
LIMA, Peru (AP) — Former in a 2016 plea agreement
Peruvian President Alan with the U.S. Justice De-
García shot himself in the partment that it paid near-
head and died Wednes- ly $800 million throughout
day moments after police Latin America in exchange
arrived at his home to ar- for lucrative public works
rest him on corruption al- contracts. The former head
legations in Latin America’s of state’s attorney accused
largest graft probe. authorities of neglecting to
President Martin Vizcarra provide García with infor-
announced the death on mation on why he was be-
Twitter, saying that doctors ing detained or show their
in the capital city of Lima official identifications when
performed emergency sur- they showed up to arrest
gery and tried three times him. “The president, upset
to resuscitate Garcia. over this situation, knowing
It was a shocking end for his absolute innocence ...
a man who twice ruled had this terrible accident,”
Peru before becoming en- attorney Erasmo Reyna
snared more recently in the said. The stunning turn of
corruption scandal involv- In this July 11, 2011 file photo, Peru’s outgoing President Alan García, left center, rides the new Line events comes four months
ing the construction giant 1 electrical train system, in Lima, Peru. after García sought asylum
Odebrecht. The scandal Associated Press in Uruguay as prosecutors
has touched nearly every for a moment to call his said. “Police forced their a payment to speak at a in Peru investigated allega-
living former president. lawyer, entered a bed- way into the room and conference in Brazil. tions he illegally took pay-
When they arrived, police room and closed the door found him.” García repeatedly pro- ments from Odebrecht.
found García on the sec- behind him, Interior Minister Prosecutors suspect the fessed his innocence and He remained there for a
ond floor of his home, a Carlos Morán said. former president received said he was the victim of little more than two weeks
leafy mansion in the city’s “Minutes later, the sound of more than $100,000 from false testimony by politi- before his request was
Miraflores district. He asked gunfire was heard,” Morán Odebrecht, disguised as cal enemies who accused denied.q

Brazil announces financial package to avoid truckers’ strike

By C.H. GARDINER ment is part of a series of tion in fatalities on federal
Associated Press recent government deci- roads. On Thursday, Bolso-
RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — The sions aimed at appeasing naro canceled a planned
government of Brazilian the sector. 5.7% increase in diesel pric-
President Jair Bolsonaro Last month Bolsonaro an- es. The decision caused
announced Tuesday a fi- nounced via Twitter that shares in Brazil’s state oil
nancial package aimed he would not be renewing company Petrobras to
at staving off a potential a contract for electronic drop more than 13%, with
truckers’ strike. radars saying that “the many investors fearing that
Brazilian Development vast majority of them only it could signal a more inter-
Bank will be providing $128 exist for the sole purpose ventionist strategy by the
million in credit to truckers of financial return for the president similar to previous
and the Ministry of Infra- state.” governments.
structure will spend $514 An investigation by news- Onyx said the indepen-
Chief of Staff Onyx Lorenzoni speaks during a press conference million on improving roads, paper Folha de Sao Paulo dence of Petrobras has not
regarding a potential truckers’ strike, at the Planalto Presidential
Palace, in Brasilia, Brazil, Tuesday, April 16, 2019. said Chief of Staff Onyx found that the radars had been jeopardized by Bolso-
Associated Press Lorenzoni. The announce- resulted in a 21.7% reduc- naro’s decision. q