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Peru's ex-president Kuczynski arrested on corruption charges

Published : 11 Apr 2019, 09:50

DF-Xinhua Report

Peruvian President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski (C) speaks on his mobile phone in Lima, Peru, on March 21, 2018. Pedro Pablo Kuczynski presented his resignation letter to the Congress on Wednesday, one day before a scheduled impeachment vote against him, according to local media. Photo Xinhua.

Peru's ex-President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski was arrested here on Wednesday on corruption charges, local media reported.

Police officers "brought ... Kuczynski to Lima's prefecture as part of a preliminary detention order from Peru's judicial branch," news agency Andina said.

He will be held for ten days as part of an ongoing investigation into Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht and its alleged bribery of government officials.

Kuczynski's former secretary and his driver were also arrested in the same operation.

Kuczynski later called his arrest "arbitrary," saying via Twitter that he has been fully cooperating with the authorities.

"I have absolutely cooperated with all of the investigations and promptly attended all of the citations from judicial authorities. I never shied away from justice," said Kuczynski.

Kuczynski's lawyer said he will appeal the decision to detain his client.