The Ethics Council of the Lima Bar Association decided to suspend Patricia Benavides Vargas as a lawyer for six months after verifying that she indirectly intervened in an investigation against her sister Emma Benavides Vargaswhen he served as prosecutor of the Nation.
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According to resolution No. 03-365-2024-MC-CE/DEP/CAL, issued by the CAL Ethics Council, the citizen Martha Accounts Anciexecutive director of Fomento de la Vida (Fovida), indicated that Benavides Vargas failed to comply with the ethical principles of her profession by indirectly intervening in an investigation against Emma Benavides.
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In his arguments he recalled that when Benavides applied for the position of prosecutor of the Nation declared before the National Board of Justice (JNJ) that he would not have any interference in processes where a family member was involved.
However, once he assumed office, Benavides ordered the dismissal of Bersabeth Revilla as provisional supreme prosecutor, in the middle of the investigation against his sister for the alleged crimes of bribery and criminal organization.
Benavides’ action was considered by the Ethics Council as conduct that violates the articles of the Lawyer’s Code of Ethics, including the principles of probity, transparency, truthfulness and good faith, qualifying it as a serious ethical misconduct.
Enma Benavides He faces an investigation for allegedly receiving bribes from drug traffickers in exchange for their release. In December 2023, the Cuarto Poder program collected the testimony of Colombian drug trafficker Percy Coromoto Matos, who assured that he contacted lawyer Walter Mendoza Pérez.
According to him, he acted as an intermediary for Enma Benavides who was called by the alias “La Doña”. He explained that the amount requested amounted to 150 thousand soles in exchange for judicial resolutions in favor of drug traffickers.
Patricia Benavides is suspended for 6 months. Photo: The Republic.
CAL dismisses other complaints against Patricia Benavides
The resolution of the CAL Ethics Council also dismisses several complaints filed by Martha Accounts against Patricia Benavides. For example, the acceptance of a public decoration awarded by the former mayor of Lima, Rafael López Aliaga. Regarding this, the entity does not prove a direct procedural relationship between Lopez Aliaga and Benavides.
The alleged lack of transparency for not exhibiting his master’s and doctoral theses. According to the Ethics Council, there is no legal obligation to register on the date they were submitted.
He is also accused of leading a criminal organization. Regarding this complaint, the CAL maintains that there is no final ruling or sufficient evidence, applying the principle of presumption of innocence.
The resolution that sanctions Benavides establishes that the precautionary measure may be challenged within five business days.
