Supreme Court of Peru ratifies preventive detention for former president Pedro Castillo

( Spanish) — The Supreme Court of Justice of Peru rejected this Friday a new appeal filed by the defense of former President Pedro Castillo and ratified the preventive detention of 36 months against the former rural teacher investigated for a case of corruption, said the high court through a message on Twitter.

The former president’s defense argued at a hearing on Wednesday that there is no flight risk. However, Judge César San Martín Castro rejected the request of the lawyers and the former president.

During the presentation before the judge, Castillo said that he has not led or is part of a criminal network.

“The Prosecutor’s Office requested preventive detention against me not because there is a danger to the process, but to comply with an order to keep me in prison at all costs,” said Castillo.

Castillo was detained on December 7 after Congress declared the Presidency vacant following Castillo’s announcement to unconstitutionally dissolve Parliament.

Castillo is facing an investigation for the alleged crimes of rebellion or conspiracy for rebellion, abuse of authority and serious disturbance of public peace for violating the constitutional order, according to the investigation initiated by the Public Ministry.

The ex-president’s wife and children are in Mexico, after this country granted them asylum.