NOVANEWSPeruvian first lady Nadine Heredia denies accusations of money laundering. | Photo: E Peru’s first lady rejected the findings linking her to the alleged dubious business dealings of corrupt Peruvian businessperson Martin Belaunde Lossio. Peruvian first lady Nadine Heredia rejected the conclusions of a report by Peruvian lawmakers, released Monday, recommending that she be investigated for her involvement in a corruption scheme carried out by Peruvian businessperson Martin Belaunde Lossio. “Regarding the investigation there is nothing there! But because they have to accuse someone, they jump from irregular contracts with the state to money laundering,” Heredia wrote via twitter, referring to the scope of the investigation. The commission’s report, which forms part of a congressional inquiry into the business activities of Lossio, found “sufficient indications to open a legal investigation into Martin Belaunde and Nadine Heredia.” The congressional commission, headed by Marisol Perez, is investigating Heredia’s links to Belaunde and alleged payments he funneled to the first lady over ghost consulting contracts. The commission’s final report concluded that Belaunde, who is being charged with political racketeering and is currently on remand in Lima, was a leading figure in a major corruption ring, which implicated various high-ranking government officials, including former Prime Minister Juan Jimenez Mayo and First Lady Heredia. Meanwhile, the commission’s recommendations come as Heredia avoided separate money-laundering charges last week, after a Peruvian federal court dismissed charges stemming from allegations of unaccounted transfers for over US$200,000 dollars between 2005 and 2009. In Peru, public authorities are required to report their income by law, to guarantee transparency.
