President Castillo’s sister-in-law will be released from preventive detention by decision of the Justice

First modification: 10/25/2022 – 03:45

After more than two months in preventive detention, the sister-in-law of the president of Peru, Pedro Castillo, will be released. This Monday, the National Superior Court of Specialized Criminal Justice ruled, using a majority, that the appeal filed by Yenifer Paredes, who sought to reverse the Justice’s request of 30 months in prison, was founded.

Paredes, whom Castillo considers a daughter, is being investigated by the Justice of the Andean country for being part of an alleged criminal organization that would be led by the president, according to indications from the Public Ministry. The purpose of this criminal network would be the delivery of false bids for public works in exchange for money.

The Prosecutor’s Office points out that Pedro Castillo’s sister-in-law was the “front man” of the criminal organization from within the Government for, presumably, leading the awarding of public works in the region of origin of the presidential family, Cajamarca.

Yenifer Paredes admitted that she worked for a company that last year won a tender with the State for nearly a million dollars. However, he denies the alleged interference in the contractual dimension of the company.

Given this scenario, the Public Ministry maintains that it could request a 23-year prison sentence for Paredes for the crimes of money laundering, belonging to a criminal organization and collusion. In addition, the Prosecutor’s Office maintains that the Peruvian first lady would also be inside the corrupt structure under the role of “coordinator” as well as other former ministers of the Executive of Pedro Castillo.

Castillo celebrated the decision of the Justice

The president continues his tug-of-war with Justice after the constitutional complaint made by the Prosecutor’s Office against him, an issue in which the Inter-American Court of Human Rights is already participating to deliberate to what extent the demand is legitimate.

But this Monday, Castillo was “quite satisfied” after the decision of the National Superior Court to release his goddaughter, according to his lawyer, Benji Espinoza.

The jurist stated on a local television channel that both he and his wife, Lilia Paredes, were relieved and that “when the judge, when deciding, embraces a legal, legal, constitutional and conventional motivation, it gives everyone peace of mind.” Likewise, he confirmed that it is possible for Yenifer Paredes to leave the prison compound this Tuesday.

“This could be a wake-up call that preventive detention cannot be taken as a daily measure (…) The exceptional nature of preventive detention is good for the justice system,” Espinoza stressed.

He also pointed out that the court’s ruling is “legally correct” and said that “it is important” that Justice “establishes the exceptional nature of preventive detention” as an exceptional resource within the investigation process.