Peru's second vice president Chehade resigns amidst corruption allegations

Peru's second vice president Chehade resigns amidst corruption allegations

2012-01-19 20:49:38 GMT+7 (ICT)

LIMA, PERU (BNO NEWS) -- Peruvian Second Vice President Omar Chehade announced his resignation on Wednesday amidst corruption allegations involving an illegal eviction.

"I have reflected over the situation and in order to avoid causing damage to the government's good image, and in favor of constructing a better institutional government, I have decided to resign irrevocably as second vice president of the republic," Chehade stated.

Chehade, 41, is accused of allegedly meeting with his brother Miguel, his friend Miguel Barandiarán, and three high commanding officers of Peru's National Police - including former police general Guillermo Arteta - in order to set up an illegal eviction of the Andahuasi sugar estate, which would have favored the Wong Group.

The meeting allegedly took place in October 2011 at a restaurant in Lima, the Peruvian capital.

In Wednesday's statement, Chehade blamed an "unjust and excessive media and political campaign" by certain groups, which fundamentally led to his decision to resign. He added that as a congressman, he would continue to support and collaborate unconditionally with the government.

However, Peru's Congress Permanent Commission will be evaluating a report in which the destitution and the barring of Chehade as congressman is proposed. He was suspended from Congress duties for 120 days in December.

Meanwhile, opposition legislator Marisol Pérez Tello underlined that despite Chehade's resignation, he would not be exempted from an investigation. Previously, President Ollanta Humala publicly suggested that Chehade should resign, but the vice president refused to do so.

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