The Fourth National Preparatory Investigation Court, chaired by Judge Víctor Zúñiga Urday, yesterday began the hearing of preventive detention and appearance with restrictions against more than 20 investigated in the case ‘shadow cabinet’, accused of being part of the alleged criminal organization entrenched in power headed by President Pedro Castillo. Today it will be resumed at 10:00 am
The hearing, which began at 4:00 pm, lasted more than five hours and focused on Salatiel Marrufo, Biberto Castillo and Abel Cabrera, alleged members of the criminal network who were advisers and collaborators of the president. A request for 36 months of preventive detention weighs on them and they are charged with the alleged crimes of criminal organization, collusion, influence peddling and personal cover-up.
According to the tax thesis, the ‘shadow cabinet’ would have carried out collusive acts in order to obtain illicit profits, which generated an economic loss of S/130 million to the detriment of the State. For this, the addressing of 34 public works projects was planned, in order to be included in the Emergency Decree No. 102-2021-Housing, of October 29, 2021.
LOOK: ‘Shadow cabinet’: what is he accused of and how did he operate in Pedro Castillo’s management?
DEVELOPING
Throughout the session, the Public Ministry exposed a series of elements of conviction that sought to support the request against the three investigated, although the defenses claimed for an alleged disorganization in the accusation of the Prosecutor’s Office.
The hearing was briefly suspended when Abel Cabrera, who would have contributed more than half a million soles to Pedro Castillo’s electoral campaign, suffered a loss of balance. At that time, the Prosecutor’s Office was reading the accusations against him regarding his “real influence” with former Minister Geiner Alvarado.
The Prosecutor’s Office detailed that the alleged illegal acts in public procurement were carried out, since June 2021, with informal meetings and appointments to the Government Palace, Congress or the Ministries of Economy and Housing.
In his explanation, the representative of the MP specified that four works had been irregularly awarded in the District Municipality of Cumba, province of Utcubamba, in Amazonas.
He also accused the organization of building protection networks, carrying out the cover-up of the investigated, acts of defamation and persecution against the investigative entities.
The judge determined at 9:00 pm that the hearing resume today with the presentation of the Prosecutor’s Office and the response of the lawyers of those investigated.
KNEW THAT
- Alejandro Sánchez, the owner of the house in Sarratea, has been a fugitive from justice since last Tuesday, October 11.
- His case was not developed yesterday by the Prosecutor’s Office, but it is expected to be addressed together with that of Salatiel Marrufo, Abel Cabrera and Biberto Castillo.
