Peru Prosecutor Files Charges Against Pedro Castillo for Corruption

Peru’s Attorney General’s Office on Tuesday filed a constitutional complaint against leftist President Pedro Castillo. In the accusation, he is accused of being the alleged head of a criminal organization “entrenched” in the State that directed a series of public works tenders during his administration that began in July of last year.

“We have found serious indications of the alleged existence of a criminal organization entrenched in the Government Palace with the purpose of capturing, controlling and directing contracting processes to obtain illicit profits,” said Patricia Benavides, prosecutor of the Nation, in a virtual conference .

President Castillo’s response was not long in coming. “There are constitutional complaints, persecution, and they don’t mind messing with your own mother. But here I am, and if my blood has to flow, I’m going to do it, and if I have to give my life, I’m going to do it,” he said. Tuesday during a public appearance.

Castillo’s legal situation is in check due to the Puente Tarata III and Petroperú cases. According to the tax resolution, to which the voice of america agreed, various responsibilities are attributed to him.

In a first matter, the Peruvian president would have used the Ministry of Transport and Communications to obtain a bribe of 58 million dollars in exchange for benefiting a businessman who contributed to his electoral campaign with the work. For this purpose, Castillo colluded with his nephews Fray Vásquez Castillo, Gian Marco Castillo Gómez and the now ex-minister Juan Silva.

In the second matter, the rural professor would have appointed Hugo Chávez Arévalo as general manager of the state-owned company Petroperú so that he can decide on the million-dollar contracts. One of them was the favor for 47 million dollars to the company Heaven Petroleum Operators (HPO) for 280,000 barrels of biodiesel. The operation became a reality when the owner of the aforementioned company, Samir Abudayeh, had a meeting with Castillo at the Government Palace.

Apart from Castillo, his former ministers Juan Silva (Transport) and Geiner Alvarado (Housing) are also involved, who would be his lieutenants in this criminal network.

It should be mentioned that the president of Peru is also investigated for the irregular promotions in the Armed Forces and the National Police in November of last year. Also for an “alleged cover-up” so as not to catch fugitives from his government, including Bruno Pachecowho was personal secretary, and the alleged plagiarism in his master’s thesis.

Call to Nicolas Maduro

Today, the arrest of five former advisers to the president was also ordered: Abel Cabrera, Auner Vásquez, Biberto Castillo and Eder Viton. According to the prosecution, these people formed a cabinet parallel to that of the state ministers and would have made decisions with the coming of Pedro Castillo in the government.

Also, the house was raided of another of his advisors Beder Camacho, who would have facilitated a conversation between Pedro Castillo and the president of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro. This happened, according to the Prosecutor’s Office, days after May 14, the date on which Mother’s Day was celebrated, on which the Peruvian president would have asked his counterpart to grant political asylum in Venezuela to his former secretary Bruno Pacheco and his nephews.

Maduro’s response would have been positive, since “he gave his full support” to Castillo. Days later, the Venezuelan ambassador gave Beder Camacho Gadea the requirements that he had to present to make the asylum effective.

However, in the end, the request did not materialize because Bruno Pacheco turned himself in to justice.

Earlier, prosecutors and police raided the offices of up to six lawmakers and the home of the president’s sister.

Prosecutors are investigating the legislators, who belong to different parties in Congress, dominated by the opposition, for allegedly benefiting from works and placing officials in key positions, in exchange for supporting Castillo’s administration.

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