Prosecutor’s Office orders Pedro Castillo to be investigated for alleged influence peddling

First modification: 07/13/2022 – 21:22

Patricia Benavides, prosecutor of the Nation, was in charge of making the decision, which had already been suspended in January of this year by the then prosecutor, Zoraida Ávalos, assuring that the president cannot be investigated while he is in office, argument that Castillo’s defense also alleges.

However, faced with this new decision, Benavides, who took office on July 1, ordered “the suspension provision to be rescinded,” referring to the investigation that had been concluded at the beginning of the year.

The Prosecutor’s Office will investigate the president for meetings he held with Peruvian businessmen, where they were allegedly awarded contracts irregularly and were financially favored. In addition, he is accused of having committed irregularities in the promotion of high-ranking military officers.

Businessmen Zamir Villaverde and Karelim Villaverde, currently under investigation for another case of corruption, will also be summoned to testify in the coming weeks. Likewise, the former secretary general of the Presidential Office, Bruno Pacheco, who is a fugitive from justice, and 6 officers of the Peruvian Army.

A new scandal for Pedro Castillo

In parallel, the president is being preliminarily investigated by the National Prosecutor’s Office, after receiving complaints of directing an alleged network of corruption in the Executive, which he has repeatedly denied.

Castillo’s defense has requested that this investigation be stopped, because according to them, the ruler enjoys absolute immunity during his term, which should end on July 28, 2026.

In May, the president announced that he would present a bill to eliminate the immunity enjoyed by all high-ranking officials in Peru, including himself. After the first investigation against him was announced, so that there is “transparency” in his investigation.

Castillo had been questioned on July 3 after the Peruvian justice admitted an appeal, filed against the decision to declare the “protection of rights” unfounded, which aimed to annul the first investigation opened by the interim prosecutor Pablo Sanchez, against Castillo.

The head of state had been interrogated by Sánchez in mid-June after accusing him of having led a criminal organization in charge of awarding public works to businessmen who had supported his electoral campaign, in addition to appointing officials in his favor.

An opposition with a clear objective

There have been several attempts to continue the investigation against Castillo. On July 3, prosecutor Benavides formalized the creation of the Special Team of Prosecutors against the Corruption of Power (EFICCOP), with the aim of investigating crimes of corruption, organized crime, drug trafficking and any crime in which government officials are involved. high positions or who have obtained positions by popular election.

This decision was taken taking into account that in Peru high-ranking officials, including the President of the Republic, enjoy immunity from being investigated and tried by the Justice. However, LA EFICCOP could not accuse Castillo, for which the Prosecutor’s Office had to intervene.

A few days after completing a year in power, the opposition has already made two attempts to remove Castillo from office. The first motion for dismissal was made due to an alleged “permanent moral incapacity”, presented in November 2021, but did not obtain the votes to be admitted for processing.

The second was different. With a divided government, the opposition managed to debate the decision to remove Castillo from his position in the Congress of the Republic, which had 55 votes in favor of the 87 that were needed to get the president to finish his term early. The union leader was acquitted on March 28.

with EFE