Peru: Prosecutor expands investigation against Castillo for influence peddling

The Peruvian Prosecutor’s Office reported on Sunday that it decided to expand an investigation into President Pedro Castillo for the alleged crimes of influence peddling, criminal organization and aggravated collusion.

“The Nation’s prosecutor, Pablo Sánchez, decided to expand the preliminary investigation against the president, Pedro Castillo, for the alleged commission of the crimes of criminal organization, aggravated influence peddling and aggravated collusion“, indicated the Prosecutor’s Office via Twitter. It noted that “the president was notified and will be guaranteed the full exercise of his right to defense.”

“The president was notified of this provision, and his investigative statement has been ordered, which will allow the due and necessary clarification of the facts,” added the Prosecutor’s Office.

With this decision, Castillo will now be included in the case of the “Puente Tarata III” consortium, which is investigating whether a former Minister of Transportation, six members of Congress, a former Secretary General of the Presidency and two nephews of the President are part of an alleged criminal network headed by the president.

The lobbyist businesswoman Karelim López accused the president and his closest entourage, including several nephews, of having formed a criminal network to illegally award contracts and works in the state. The consortium that the businesswoman represented won the tender for a contract for about 57.6 million dollars.

The businesswoman López cooperates with the Prosecutor’s Office under the legal umbrella of “effective collaboration” (rewarded denunciation). If her denunciations are proven, she could obtain a lesser sentence in case she is convicted by justice.

The scandal broke out when the press revealed López’s efforts with Castillo to have the consortium known as “Puente Tarata III” win a public tender to build a bridge in the San Martín region. Castillo denies these accusations.

Peruvian law prevents a president from being investigated when he is in office. Castillo ends his term in July 2026.

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The Peruvian Prosecutor’s Office reported on Sunday that it decided to expand an investigation into President Pedro Castillo for the alleged crimes of influence peddling, criminal organization and aggravated collusion.

“The Nation’s prosecutor, Pablo Sánchez, decided to expand the preliminary investigation against the president, Pedro Castillo, for the alleged commission of the crimes of criminal organization, aggravated influence peddling and aggravated collusion“, indicated the Prosecutor’s Office via Twitter. It noted that “the president was notified and will be guaranteed the full exercise of his right to defense.”

“The president was notified of this provision, and his investigative statement has been ordered, which will allow the due and necessary clarification of the facts,” added the Prosecutor’s Office.

With this decision, Castillo will now be included in the case of the “Puente Tarata III” consortium, which is investigating whether a former Minister of Transportation, six members of Congress, a former Secretary General of the Presidency and two nephews of the President are part of an alleged criminal network headed by the president.

The lobbyist businesswoman Karelim López accused the president and his closest entourage, including several nephews, of having formed a criminal network to illegally award contracts and works in the state. The consortium that the businesswoman represented won the tender for a contract for about 57.6 million dollars.

The businesswoman López cooperates with the Prosecutor’s Office under the legal umbrella of “effective collaboration” (rewarded denunciation). If her denunciations are proven, she could obtain a lesser sentence in case she is convicted by justice.

The scandal broke out when the press revealed López’s efforts with Castillo to have the consortium known as “Puente Tarata III” win a public tender to build a bridge in the San Martín region. Castillo denies these accusations.

Peruvian law prevents a president from being investigated when he is in office. Castillo ends his term in July 2026.

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