36-month preventive detention confirmed for Peru’s ex-Presiden Castillo

WORLD, April 01 (YPA) – A Peruvian appeals court on Friday upheld the 36-month preventive detention for former president Pedro Castillo, accused of corruption and detained since December for rebellion after an alleged coup attempt.

The Permanent Criminal Chamber of the Supreme Court, chaired by César San Martín Castro, ratifies 36 months of preventive detention against former President Pedro Castillo Terrones, indicted for the alleged offense of criminal organization among others, has tweeted the account of the Supreme Court.

The 53-year-old ex-president is to remain behind bars until December 2025, the time for the prosecution to move forward with their investigations and decide whether he will be tried for the two crimes.

On March 10, Judge Juan Carlos Checkley announced in a virtual hearing the extension of Mr. Castillo’s pre-trial detention from 18 to 36 months for attempting to unconstitutionally dissolve Parliament, intervene in the judicial system and to rule by decree.

The former president then announced that he would appeal the court’s decision.

Mr. Castillo, a leftist and leader of a teachers’ union, denies the corruption charges and says he feels unjustly kidnapped.

The prosecution believes that Mr. Castillo was at the head of a network of corruption, money laundering and public procurement made up of his family and political environment.

The former Peruvian president, who was elected in 2021 to rule until 2026, was removed from office 17 months into his term.

E.M