Chamber ratifies rejection of preventive detention against Vladimir Cerrón

The Third Criminal Chamber of National Appeals confirmed the rejection of the prosecutor’s request to issue 36 months preventive detention against the owner of Peru Libre, Vladimir Cerroninvestigated for money laundering.

In the resolution issued on January 6, to which Peru21the judges conclude that the prosecutor Rafael Vela did not forcefully justify that the former regional governor of Junín represents a flight risk or an obstacle to the criminal process.

Regarding the threats that a protected witness would have received from Cerrón, the court indicated that “correlation” and corroboration are lacking to demonstrate if there was pressure from the person being investigated.

“This assertion is incomplete, since there is no specific factual correlate, this is what the threat consisted of in order to assess its suitability to “break” or “determine” the will of the witness, and thus affect the production of evidence. passive sources of evidence,” the document reads.

Along these lines, the courtroom stresses that the Prosecutor’s Office “has presented incomplete rebuttal arguments.” Regarding the danger of flight, the Public Ministry had indicated that Cerrón Rojas had not shown willingness to contribute to the proceedings and that he constantly asked for rescheduling so that later, when it was his turn to testify, he would remain silent.

In this regard, the magistrates argued that “the defendant cannot be required to collaborate or contribute to the investigation, in respect of the right to non-incrimination.”

In relation to labor and domiciliary ties, the ruling indicates that the prosecutor Vela has indicated that there is “weak ties” and that this cannot be considered to dictate a preventive detention because “it cannot be affirmed that a budget is fulfilled halfway or with little intensity”.

Tax sources told this newspaper that the coordinator of the Money Laundering Prosecutor’s Office will file an appeal before the Supreme Court to reverse this decision.

The former regional authority is accused of having used illicit money collected by the criminal organization Los Dinámicos del Centro to finance party activities, including Pedro Castillo’s presidential campaign in 2021.