For the third time in just over two months, the president of Peru, Pedro Castillo, gave testimony to the Public Ministry about cases that accuse him of embezzling public money, fraud and obstruction of justice. This Monday (5), the prosecutor questioned him in relation to an alleged network of corruption that would work within the government and the accusation of interference in the Peruvian police.
In the criminal case – the fifth against Castillo – prosecutors allege that the president obstructed justice by firing his interior minister on July 20, with the aim of suspending an investigation against allies. At the time, Mariano González had only been in office for two weeks. For the MP, Castillo tried to prevent the appointment of a special police team to locate two members of the presidential entourage who were on the run.
Shortly after his resignation, González asked Congress to remove Castillo and accused him of protecting members of his political environment.
To the press, the Peruvian president said this Monday that he “categorically rejects all the accusations”. “We will go where they summon us,” he added. He was also questioned about an alleged influence peddling in the country’s state oil company, Petroperu. Castillo also testified to the Public Ministry on June 17 for alleged bribes in public works contracts and on August 4 for alleged irregular promotions in the armed forces.
On the last few occasions, Castillo walked from the presidential palace to the Attorney’s Office, surrounded by protesters. This time, however, he arrived at the agency’s headquarters in an official vehicle. Small groups of protesters for and against were waiting at the door and, after the hearing – which lasted about two and a half hours – his car was sprayed with eggs.
His wife, Lila Pares, was also due to testify on Monday, but the Peruvian court canceled the hearing minutes before the scheduled time. “We have just been informed that the hearing has been suspended and they will notify us of the new date. We do not know why it was suspended, my client was very willing to attend,” attorney Benji Espinoza told reporters. Paredes is accused of corruption and money laundering.
The first lady has also testified in other situations: she was interrogated by the Public Ministry on July 8 and, five days later, responded to a subpoena from Congress, where she refused to answer questions.
Also on Monday, the Peruvian Public Ministry informed, via Twitter, that it included the country’s current prime minister, AnÃbal Torres, and the minister of Justice and Human Rights, Félix Chero, in the investigation into the alleged corruption network led by Castillo. The holder of the Transport and Communications portfolio, Geiner Alvarado, is also investigated in the case.
Prosecutors accuse the president of embezzling public money in the highest executive positions. Castillo, according to the agency, appointed trusted people to key government positions and forced them to rig public tenders. In addition to the first lady, her sister-in-law, Yenifer Paredes, would also be involved in the case – she, by the way, is serving a 30-month preventive detention in a Lima prison.
The president has five inquiries running against him. Among the possible crimes investigated by the Public Ministry are alleged corruption schemes in public works and influence peddling in a fuel purchase contract.
In the midst of political and criminal attrition, he is also the target of investigation for plagiarism in his master’s thesis. In Peru, the head of state can be investigated while in office, but legislation prevents him from being tried.
Accusations of alleged corruption at the highest level of government are not new to the country. Similar situations led to the downfall of right-wing president Pedro Pablo Kuczynski in 2018 and centrist MartÃn Vizcarra in 2020.
