The Peruvian Justice confirmed the 35-year prison sentence against former police officer Erusbel Apaza for the murder of second-ranked non-commissioned officer José Luis Soncco during the anti-government protests that occurred in January 2023 in the city of Juliaca, in the south of the country, where 17 protesters also died in clashes with law enforcement forces.
Initially it was thought that Soncco was burned to death on January 9 when protesters burned the police vehicle in which he was in the context of social unrest, but investigations determined that beforehand, Apaza attacked the non-commissioned officer and he died from a blow to the head.
Thus, Apaza was found guilty of the crimes of aggravated disturbance and theft of weapons, because when he was arrested they found Soncco’s weapons in the former police officer’s house.
The National Police of Peru (PNP) reported on social networks this Saturday that through a final ruling, the Juliaca Criminal Appeals Chamber confirmed the 35 years in prison and civil reparation, a sentence already handed down in June 2025.
“When a police officer is attacked, the State is attacked. This ruling not only sanctions a crime, but also sets a historical precedent in the defense of authority, confirming responsibility for the crimes of aggravated riots and theft or snatching of a firearm,” added the PNP.
In addition, the payment of 180,000 soles (53,700 dollars or 45,300 euros) as civil reparation in favor of the family of the police officer and 25,000 soles in favor of the State was ratified.
The PNP reminded citizens that “collective violence is not protest,” that the attack on authority will not go unpunished and that the life of a police officer is respected.
Police General Óscar Arriola explained in March 2023, when three suspects in the crime were captured, that Apaza was retired from the PNP in 2020 due to disciplinary measures.
He added that at the time of the arrest, the pistol owned by Soncco and cartridges as well as cash were found at his home.
During the anti-government protests at the end of 2022 and beginning of 2023, which called for the resignation of then-president Dina Boluarte (2022-2025) and the closure of Congress, 49 people died in the repression of the demonstrations.
