In a crucial court hearing scheduled for Monday afternoon, the case of Gustavo Penadesformer senator of National Partyhas won a new chapter with the request of the prosecutor Alicia Ghione to charge the politician with a new crime. Penadés remains in preventive detention due to serious accusations of 22 sexual crimes committed against minors.
Prosecutor Ghione, who is in charge of sexual crimes, has filed a petition requesting that the former legislator be charged with new crimes related to what has been called “the plot.” This plot is made up of a series of illegal maneuvers aimed at obstructing the ongoing investigation. These additional charges reinforce the seriousness of the accusations that Penadés faces.
Implications of “the plot” to protect Penadés
The plot uncovered by the prosecution involves actions such as monitoring and contacting the alleged victims of Penadés, which has resulted in the indictment and conviction of six people. Among those convicted is Carlos Tarocoformer director of the Santiago Vázquez prison, previously known as Comcar, illustrating the scope and seriousness of the activities to obstruct justice.
Prosecutor Ghione requests keep Penadés in preventive detentionjustifying his request with the persistent risk that the former senator represents of trying again to obstruct judicial investigations. The politician’s preventive detention is scheduled to expire at the beginning of October, but with these new accusations, it is proposed that this measure be extended.
Extension of the investigation period
In addition to requests related to pretrial detention, the prosecution has asked to extend the time allotted to conduct a thorough investigation into the alleged sexual crimes. The original deadline, which ends on October 10, could be extended for a full year, allowing more space to develop research on multiple fronts.
The case of Gustavo Penadés has sparked great public and media interest, not only because of the political relevance of the accused but also because of the seriousness and number of the crimes he faces. Extending the investigation period would allow the authorities to explore all the evidence and statements in detail, without rushing a case that the prosecutor has described as complex and multifaceted.
