Keiko Fujimori, the leader of the Fuerza Popular party, is under scrutiny for failing to report $3.65 million received from businessman Dionisio Romero Paoletti between November 3, 2010, and May 23, 2011. During this period, Fujimori served as a congresswoman and was required to submit a sworn declaration of her income, assets, and liabilities, according to Law 27482.
A confidential investigation by the Superintendencia de Banca y Seguros (SBS) confirmed these contributions from Romero. In 2019, Fujimori confirmed receiving these funds but admitted to concealing them. She stated on Twitter, now X, that maintaining the confidentiality of private campaign donations was a commitment she made out of fear of reprisals.
Regardless of any private agreement, Fujimori was legally obligated to report these amounts as stipulated in Article 3 of Law 27482. According to a database from the Comptroller’s Office reported by La República, Fujimori did not declare the $3.65 million from Romero in any of her three annual declarations.
In her 2010 declaration, she reported S/117,500 in assets and S/513,872 under “Other,” which includes bank accounts. The following year, she again declared S/117,500 in assets and S/603,700 under “Other,” without any mention of the significant funds received. Between November and December 2010, Romero provided $700,000 (approximately S/2,520,000) to Fujimori, based on the SBS report.
During the period from January to May, Fujimori received a total of $2,950,000 (about S/11,210,000). In all, she accumulated S/13,730,000 between late 2010 and early 2011, yet these amounts were never included in her sworn declarations. Article 5 of Law 27482 requires legislators to disclose all income, assets, and property, including real estate and savings.
Fujimori’s failure to comply with this law leaves her vulnerable to legal repercussions. Five years ago, she claimed on Twitter that there was “no money laundering,” and now she must clarify the whereabouts of these undisclosed funds.
Fujimori, who has faced preventive detention twice, is accused by prosecutor José Domingo Pérez of leading a criminal organization within her party. After more than two years of investigation, the Public Ministry has sought a 30-year prison sentence for her on charges including organized crime, money laundering, obstruction of justice, and false statements in administrative proceedings.
The prosecution also implicates Fuerza Popular and MVV Bienes RaÃces SAC, proposing their dissolution and liquidation if a guilty verdict is reached. This trial is tied to substantial contributions allegedly received from companies like Odebrecht to fund her electoral campaigns in 2011 and 2016, with her close associates reportedly acting as intermediaries.
To justify the funds in the party’s accounts, campaign teams organized cocktail parties with supporters, encouraging friends and associates to simulate large cash contributions.
The Public Ministry has summoned 1,031 witnesses, including former Odebrecht executives and representatives from Peruvian companies that funded Fujimori’s campaigns. Jorge Barata, the former head of Odebrecht in Peru, testified in 2018 that he contributed $1.2 million to Fujimori’s campaign, matching donations made to candidates Ollanta Humala and Pedro Pablo Kuczynski.
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