Arequipa. After several years, justice reaches Manuel Vera Paredes, who served as mayor of the District Municipality of Cerro Colorado and whose position he seeks to occupy again. A few days before the Regional and Municipal Elections 2022, The politician was sentenced to eight years in prison for the crime of asset laundering.
The decision was made by the Second Criminal Collegiate of the Court of Arequipawhich, in the middle of an advance ruling procedure, carried out this Thursday, September 29, found Vera Paredes guilty, current candidate for the district chair of Cerro Colorado for the movement Arequipa Tradition and Future (ATF).
Although this judicial decision puts Vera Paredes in the eye of the storm, her participation in the elections could continue. Nevertheless, It must be taken into account that, according to the regulations of the National Elections Jury (JNE), a candidate sentenced, even in the first instance, before voting day, must be excluded from the contest.
In this regard, Jorge Sumari Buendía, general secretary of the Arequipa Tradition and Future movement, was consulted, who indicated that while the JNE does not issue a resolution or pronounce itself in relation to this sentence, Manuel Vera Paredes is still in the race; nevertheless, He acknowledged that this is a situation never seen before, so the decision of the electoral body is unpredictable.
In relation to the fact that this judicial decision contributes to questioning the image of both Vera Paredes and ATF, he maintained that the candidate complied with the rules established by law. “We have respect and consideration for our candidate. We start from the presumption of innocence because all instances have not yet been exhausted and we understand that the sentence will be appealed.“, he indicated, although he also stressed that the sentence surprises them given that we are a few hours before the elections, so “it gives the feeling that it has been calculated.”
Meanwhile, this resolution issued by judges Janet Lastra Ramírez, Percy Chalco Ccallo and David Mendiguri Peralta must be notified to the Special Electoral Jury of Arequipa to evaluate what the future of Vera Paredes will be in the next elections.
Why was Vera Paredes found guilty?
According to the indictment, Vera Paredes would have illicitly enriched while he served as mayor of Cerro Colorado, in his 2013 administration. Although the former authority claimed that the resources came from the sale of Peking ducks, the argument was not very credible. The case was archived during 2015 and was later reopened. A series of events aroused the suspicions of the Public ministry:
- Equity imbalance for 119,000 soles
- Purchase of a property.
- Deposit of 100,000 soles to a common fund with his wife
- Purchase of a vehicle.
