The president of Peru, Pedro Castillo, must appear this Monday to testify before the Prosecutor’s Office as part of an investigation that is being followed for the alleged commission of the crimes of influence peddling and personal cover-up, local media reported.
The president was summoned by Deputy Supreme Prosecutor Marco Huamán to come to his office from 08:30 (13:30 GMT) on Monday.
The president will be questioned about an alleged irregular purchase of biodiesel by the state oil company Petroperú, as well as about the controversial dismissal of lawyer Mariano González as Minister of the Interior, who later declared that the president was involved in corruption cases.
The RPP station assured this Sunday that Castillo will also be questioned about the accusation of leading an alleged criminal organization entrenched in the Ministry of Housing during the management of Geiner Alvarado, who is now Minister of Transport and Communications (MTC) and will also be questioned this Monday. by Congress.
LAWYER CONFIRMS ASSISTANCE
Castillo’s lawyer, Benji Espinoza, assured last Friday that the ruler will go to the prosecutor’s office, after having requested the rescheduling of that summons on two previous occasions.
“I can confirm that the president is going to attend both proceedings, both cases,” Espinoza said before specifying that Castillo will be accompanied by another of his lawyers, Eduardo Pachas.
He indicated that he will accompany Castillo’s wife, Lilia Paredes, to another judicial proceeding, for whom the Prosecutor’s Office has requested that the impediment to leave the country be issued for 36 months in another investigation of alleged corruption.
Yenifer Paredes, who is the sister of the first lady and was raised as a daughter by the presidential couple, has been serving a 30-month preventive detention order since last week while she is being investigated for allegedly having coordinated the award of works in the region of Cajamarca for the company of businessman Hugo Espino, who collaborates with the Prosecutor’s Office in this case.
The Public Ministry requested that Castillo’s sister-in-law be sentenced to 23 years in prison for the alleged commission of the crimes of money laundering and criminal organization.
«A DIFFICULT SITUATION»
“It is a tough situation, that is undeniable, it is a difficult situation, humanly difficult and painful, but the difficulties and adversities are precisely to measure the strength of people, and I have found absolute strength in the first lady and in the president. », commented Espinoza in this regard.
In subsequent statements to the state network TV Peru, the lawyer added that although Castillo will go to the prosecutor’s office, there is a possibility that he will decide to remain silent.
“The right to remain silent is an option, just as the right to reserve a statement is also an option, which means that you are going to testify, but when you show me all the elements of conviction, when you show me all the data, information that you have collected “, held.
Castillo already appeared on August 4 before the Attorney General of Peru, Patricia Benavides, to be questioned in the investigation that follows him for the alleged commission of the crime of influence peddling during the promotion process in the Armed Forces and the National Police last year.
The ruler assured at that time that he is not part of “any criminal network” and that he will prove his innocence “wherever”. EFE
