Three months after his failed coup, the former coup president Pedro Castillo he will remain in prison after the decision of the supreme judge Juan Carlos Checkley of issuing 36 months of preventive detention against him for the corruption cases in which he has been involved. This is the second preventive detention that he has received after the 18-month sentence for alleged rebellion and conspiracy.
The judge’s decision is made because the coup leader is considered the alleged leader of a criminal organization for crimes committed in Petroperú and in the ministries of Transportation, and Housing, Construction, and Sanitation. For this same case, Checkley issued another preventive pressure for the same time against the former minister John Silvacurrently on the run and required by Peruvian justice.
Supreme Court of Preparatory Investigation imposes 36 months of preventive detention on #PedroCastillo for being the alleged leader of a criminal organization for crimes committed in Petroperú and in the ministries of Transportation, and Housing, Construction, and Sanitation. pic.twitter.com/hhhP2SrIOl
– Judicial Power Peru (@Poder_Judicial_) March 9, 2023
The judge pointed out that there is a risk of flight and added that Castillo had sought to obstruct the judicial process by intimidating witnesses, and putting pressure on judicial authorities such as the National Prosecutor herself, Patricia Benavides. The judge pointed out that Castillo faces a sentence of 32 years of pressure for the alleged crimes of criminal organization, influence peddling and collusion.
In the hearing held last Tuesday, Castillo said: “I flatly and categorically deny being an author and being part of a criminal network. The only crime I have committed is serving my country as President of the Republic. And I have not only had two ministers , but many who, in order to carry out their function, have had to request and accept the vote of confidence from Congress”.