Prominent Banker’s Testimony Highlights Keiko Fujimori’s Money Laundering Trial

Peru’s legal and political landscapes are set for a significant event as Dionisio Romero Paoletti, former head of Credicorp Ltd., will testify in a money laundering trial against Keiko Fujimori.

This trial, featuring around 2,000 witnesses, highlights allegations of Fujimori’s campaign financing practices during her 2011 and 2016 presidential runs.

Prosecutors seek to secure a lengthy prison sentence for her, up to 30 years. Romero Paoletti, who led Peru’s largest financial institution for over a decade, plays a pivotal role in this case.

Prosecutor José Domingo Pérez revealed that Romero Paoletti withdrew $3.65 million in cash from the bank’s vault in 17 transactions between November 2010 and May 2011.

He then delivered these funds directly to Fujimori. These actions place Romero Paoletti’s testimony at the heart of the prosecution’s case.

The trial’s backdrop involves broader allegations of corruption linked to Credicorp and other major Peruvian corporations.

Fujimori also allegedly received illicit funding from the Brazilian conglomerate Odebrecht SA, notorious for its bribery of politicians across Latin America.

This context underscores the trial’s importance, reflecting the deep entanglement of politics and corporate interests in Peru.

Fujimori’s Political Resilience Amid Allegations

Fujimori, the daughter of former President Alberto Fujimori, denies the charges. Despite spending time in pre-trial detention, she is set to run for president again in 2026.

Her political resilience and the severity of the charges contribute to the case’s high stakes.

Credicorp, which owns Banco de Crédito del Perú (BCP), previously acknowledged that its campaign contributions exceeded legal limits.

However, the company maintains that Fujimori alone is accountable for these actions.

Their defense centers on the lack of sanctions for contributors under the law at that time, focusing legal responsibility on the recipients.

Romero Paoletti, a member of one of Peru’s wealthiest families and major shareholder of Credicorp, has since left the company, now led by Luis Enrique Romero.

This trial not only tests the legal system but also challenges the integrity of Peru’s political and corporate realms.

It highlights the ongoing struggle against corruption and the quest for accountability in high places.