Peru naval officers arrested for illegal wiretaps

[Robbien]

Source: AP

LIMA, Peru (AP) — In another twist to Peru's oil-kickback scandal, police have arrested five people for allegedly recording the telephone conversations that revealed the scheme.

Attorney General Gladys Echaiz on Thursday announced the arrest of two active and three retired naval officers who ran a private security company that allegedly ran a black market wiretapping service. A civilian woman who worked at the company, Business Track SAC, was also arrested.

President Alan Garcia, who lost seven cabinet members in the scandal, ranted against illegal wiretappers Friday, calling them "conspirators against democracy."

"If we want to banish these cursed wiretappers from Peru, if we want to expel these peddlers and conspirators against democracy, we need good education and we are going to build it here," Garcia said at a ceremony launching a program to fund Peru's schools.

The naval officers allegedly intercepted telephone conversations in which lobbyists and public officials discussed kickbacks for steering government oil contracts to Norway's Discover Petroleum. The calls were aired publicly in October.

Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gVTRh7gPm-W0gb7AMqStsJXxfMjgD95JUB200

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Garcia is rabid about phone taps (which by the way brought to light illegal acts by his government officials and their lobbyist best buds). Phone taps bad.

Is Garcia rabid about the revealed political corruption, not so much.

[madeline_con]

1. I can't find Peruvia on the map!

:eyes:

[Whoa_Nelly]

2. At least one country did something right for once

"conspirators against democracy."

That says it all.

Now.

Prosecute the Bush Cabal!