The prosecutor specializing in corruption of civil servants Karla Zecenarro handed over to the Prosecutor of the Nation, Pablo Sánchez, the transcript of an audio recording of an incriminating conversation between the former Minister of Transport and Communications Juan Silva Villegas and the businessman Zamir Villaverde Garcia.
In the recording of November 4, 2021, Zamir Villaverde tells Juan Silva that the Spanish company Tableros y Puentes (Tapusa) commissioned him to deliver US$100,000 for awarding him the construction of the Tarata III Bridge, in the San Martín region, for S/ 232.5 million.
Tapusa was part of the consortium made up of HB Metallic Structures and Termirex, which won the tender called by Provías Descentralizado on October 19. Termirex, owned by the Pasapera Adrianzén brothers, it is the construction company for which the effective collaborator Karelim López worked, who declared to the prosecutor Karla Zecenarro that Zamir Villaverde offered public works to Luis Pasapera Adrianzén, brother of the owners of Termirex.
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“The friends of Tapusa have sent here, they have sent me a present for you (the sound of a suitcase being opened is heard). (It’s) a hundred grand for you. This is a small (present). They still do not charge anything (those of the winning consortium of the tender). But it is a present of a good sign,” Zamir Villaverde told former minister Juan Silva, according to the transcript of the audio contained in the report that prosecutor Karla Zecenarro sent to the prosecutor of the Nation, and whose content was disclosed last night by the program. Combutters’, of the Willax Canal.
After 21 days of dialogue between Juan Silva and Zamir Villaverde, on November 25, 2021, the consortium made up of Termirex, Tapusa and HB Metallic Structures signed contract with Provías Descentralizado for the construction of the Tarata III bridge.
The incriminating audio, delivered by Zamir Villaverde to the prosecutor Karla Zecenarro, confirms the hypothesis of the prosecutor of the Nation, Pablo Sánchez, who decided to open an investigation against President Pedro Castillo and former Minister Juan Silva for favoring companies such as those that made up the Puente Tarata III Consortium with Decentralized Provías contracts.
The former minister, Juan Francisco Silva Villegas, claimed not to know the businessman Zamir Villaverde. Photo: Carlos Contreras/LR
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An audit of the Comptroller General of the Republic established that the members of the bidding committee manipulated the process to favor the aforementioned consortium that did not meet the requirements.
In addition, the transcription of the recording destroys the defense of Juan Silva, who on Wednesday reappeared in several media outlets to reiterate that he had never met Zamir Villaverde in his office and that he practically did not know him, despite the statements of several witnesses. The audio confirms that not only Juan Silva and Zamir Villaverde were in contact. They also negotiated bribes, according to the tax transcript.
As can be deduced from the conversation between Juan Silva and Zamir Villaverde, They also talked about other tenders that were on the way and that were virtually rigged to be awarded to corrupt construction companies.
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“Juancito, look, I tell you. Already tomorrow, it is already confirmed that Tarata’s race (bid) is won. It’s already won. Yesterday and today 7 more races (bids) are being played. Sure, they’re not big. They are 65 (millions) and 64 (millions). (…) We still have control. And this coming week those big ones come out, 285 (million). And 18 conservations (of highways) are going to come out in (Provías) Decentralized. And in the part of (Provías) Nacional they are going to come out like 35 (bids). So let’s say to December, you will see quantity (of bids). But there is always an interval to wait for the good pro, the documents and all that stuff”, Villaverde explained to Silva.
“This is the first management that we have achieved, one that is very fast is missing,” Villaverde told Silva.
“Yes, yes, of course,” ex-minister Silva responded affirmatively.
If there was any doubt about the involvement of Juan Silva Villegas, the audio of Zamir Villaverde recorded in the former minister’s office does not leave any.
