Charges of illegal banking activity against Cuenca businessman Juan Pablo Eljuri are dropped

Federal prosecutors have dropped all charges against Cuenca businessman Juan Pablo Eljuri in connection with the distribution of bribe money from the Brazilian construction company Odebrecht to Ecuadorian officials.

Juan Pablo Eljuri

Eljuri, a member of one of Latin America’s wealthiest families, was arrested in September and charged with transferring money from Odebrecht through his South American International Bank, or Sai ​​Bank, in Curaçao.

As part of the prosecutor’s order, some of Eljuri’s property was seized and a freeze was placed on his bank accounts in Ecuador. In addition, Eljuri was ordered to wear an ankle surveillance device.

Following the decision of the prosecutor’s office Monday, Eljuri’s attorney Emiliano Donoso said “justice has been served.”

According to Donoso, Eljuri’s legal team convinced prosecutors that there was no prior knowledge of, or involvement with, the funds that passed through Sai Bank by Eljuri. “Mr. Eluri has provided all the information asked of him by the government and has proven that he was not involved in any illegal activity,” Donoso said