The Peruvian Prosecutor’s Office formalized this Tuesday the preparatory investigation against former President Pedro Castillo as the alleged perpetrator of various corruption crimes during his Government, after Congress approved last Friday the final report of a constitutional complaint against the former president.
“The National Prosecutor’s Office formalized the preparatory investigation against the former President of the Republic Pedro Castillo as the alleged perpetrator of the crimes of aggravated criminal organization and aggravated influence peddling; and alleged accomplice of the crime of simple collusion,” the Public Ministry announced on Twitter. .
This preparatory investigation is the step prior to an accusation by the Prosecutor’s Office against Castillo, since the former president no longer has the immunity he had when dealing with a case during his term as president.
In addition, the Public Ministry confirmed this Tuesday a preparatory investigation into the former Minister of Transport and Communications, Juan Silva Villegas, as the alleged perpetrator of the crime of criminal organization and simple collusion, and against the former Minister of Housing, Construction and Sanitation, Geiner Alvarado, as the alleged author of the crime of criminal organization.
Congressional Complaint
The Peruvian Congress approved on Friday the final report of a constitutional complaint that recommends that the Prosecutor’s Office indict former President Castillo for allegedly leading a criminal organization during his government to obtain money in exchange for fraudulent public works tenders.
With 59 votes in favor, 23 against and 3 abstentions, the chamber gave the green light to the final report of the complaint filed by the National Prosecutor’s Office (general) against the former president, who is serving 18 months in preventive detention after his failed closure of the Congress.
The document recommends accusing Castillo for the alleged commission of crimes against public peace, in the form of criminal organization aggravated by his alleged status as leader, and against the public administration, in the form of aggravated influence peddling, as well as alleged accomplice of the crime against the public administration in the form of collusion.
The file responds to alleged irregularities found in the works of the Tarata II Bridge, in the northern department of San Martín, and in other alleged cases of corruption related to the public company Petroperú and the Ministry of Housing.
In two other votes, the plenary session of Parliament also approved to accuse the former Ministers of Transport and Communications and of Housing, Civil Construction and Sanitation, Juan Silva and Geiner Alvarado, for the alleged commission of the crime against public tranquility in the same case. form of criminal organization.
The Permanent Commission of Congress approved this report on February 10, after the constitutional complaint filed last November by the Prosecutor of the Nation (general), Patricia Benavides, against the then head of state and his former ministers.
During the parliamentary debate, which lasted for about four hours, dozens of the 130 congressmen from the Peruvian chamber spoke.
Castillo asks the IACHR
Former Peruvian President Pedro Castillo (2021-2022) asked the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) to order the Peruvian State his “immediate release” and reinstatement as president of the Andean country, his former Defense Minister Walter Ayala reported Tuesday.
“Given the unjustified delay of the Judiciary in resolving an amparo, Pedro Castillo asks the IACHR for his reinstatement as Constitutional President of Peru and his immediate release. In the coming days there will be news,” Ayala wrote on his Twitter account, who, according to various local media, assumed the legal defense of Castillo.
