Peru’s prosecutor’s office said on Tuesday that it had formalized an investigation against former leftist president Pedro Castillo as the alleged perpetrator of the crimes of criminal organization, influence peddling and an accomplice to collusion during his tenure, before his dismissal in December.
The prosecution’s decision is known after Congress approved Friday a constitutional complaint against Castillo for alleged cases of corruption during his administration between July 2021 and December 7, before being dismissed for attempting to illegally dissolve Parliament.
The National Prosecutor’s Office, in a message on Twitter, also announced the formalization of an investigation against two former ministers of the former president for alleged bribes related to the construction of a bridge and the purchase of fuel for the state-owned Petroperú.
Castillo has been in preventive detention for 18 months since December in a prison inside a police base in Lima, while The prosecution is investigating him for alleged rebellion for his failed attempt to close the chamber of legislators. The former president rejects all charges against him.
Castillo’s dismissal a rural teacher and son of peasants, has provoked a wave of violent protests mainly from poor regions in the south of the country against the Government, which have left some 60 dead in two months.
Protesters demand the resignation of President Dina Boluarte -who was vice president of Castillo-, the closure of Congress, quick early elections and a constituent assembly.
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