New Car Wash testimony involves three South American leaders

Operation Car Wash, the biggest corruption investigation in Brazil’s history, has long since spilled over the country’s borders. Construction firm Odebrecht—the central focus of the Car Wash probe—admitted to being involved in corrupt deals in several other countries, leading to vast political fallout and the suicide of a former head of state. Now, new testimony indicates that OAS, another big player in the Car Wash scandal, may have engaged in similar dealings around the continent.

Odebrecht’s malfeasance in Latin America

With regard to Odebrecht, allegations, accusations and subsequent convictions for dealings abroad centered largely on Peru. The brave Southern Interoceanic Highway project—a monster roadway stretching for 2,600 kilometers—was led by Odebrecht and turned out to be a pit of corruption, with the Brazilian firm paying roughly USD 20 million in bribes to former Peruvian president Alejandro Toledo. 

Subsequent investigations led to Mr. Toledo’s three successors coming under the microscope. Alan Garcia (president between 2006 and 2011) was the subject of an arrest warrant in 2019 connected to receiving bribes from Odebrecht. Before he was taken into custody, he shot himself in the...