Never before in the history of Peru has a president of the Republic been under the scrutiny of the Public Ministry a few months after starting his term of government. In the last decade, some presidents, Ollanta Humala, Pedro Pablo Kuczynski and Martín Vizcarra, went through this ordeal, but at the end of their terms.
A little over four months into his term of office, President Pedro Castillo was already cited by the Nation’s prosecutor, Zoraida Ávalos, to testify in an investigation to the former Minister of Defense Walter Ayala and the former secretary of the Presidency Bruno Pacheco for alleged influence peddling and abuse of authority in military promotions.
Everything suggests that it is the beginning. Although the Attorney General cites him as a witness, it is possible that this will change over time during his presidential term or even afterwards. Investigations usually last more than the five years that a presidential term lasts.
Secretary. Bruno Pacheco is investigated in three cases. Photo: Marco Cotrina / The Republic
YOU CAN SEE: Pedro Castillo, Mirtha Vásquez, Pedro Francke and Guido Bellido are reported to the Sub-Commission
So far there is no known illicit event directly involving the president in an investigation, but his name appears in press reports or in the background of up to eight investigations started by the Public ministry, from July to date. That is why he is now being cited as a witness.
In addition, in two cases there would already be effective collaborators, who although they have not mentioned it, they do not have a deadline to remember an event, so everything is open to an extension of their statement.
It is possible that all these cases have their counterpart in Congress, now that the vacancy attempt failed.
YOU CAN SEE: Aguinaga asked the Plenary for powers to investigate meetings of Pedro Castillo in Breña
‘The Dynamics of the Center’
Another case is that of ‘Los Dinámicos del Centro’, in which Vladimir Cerrón is investigated and officials of the Regional Government of Junín, insofar as it is said that the activities of this alleged illegal organization allowed to finance the political activities of Peru Libre in the last electoral campaign.
Leader of free Peru. Vladimir Cerrón is part of the Los Dinámicos del Centro case. Photo: Gerardo Marín / The Republic
Regarding the financing of the 2021 campaign, there are two other investigations in process. The one that follows the Vice President and Minister of Social Inclusion, Dina Boluarte, and the Vice Minister of Governance, Braulio Grajeda, for opening a bank account where contributions were received from the militants of Free Peru. In this case they have also been included Vladimir Cerrón, his brother Congressman Waldemar Rojas and the former president of the Council of Ministers Guido Bellido.
Besides, there is the investigation of Richard Rojas García. Also for alleged transfers of dirty money for the electoral campaign, in which Castillo was the presidential candidate.
YOU CAN SEE: RMP: “The one who really fixed the president’s problem was César Acuña”
Vice President. Dina Boluarte faces investigation for contributions to the campaign. Photo: broadcast
Breña House
Then there are the investigations into alleged acts of corruption by officials close to the President of the Republic. The meetings at Breña’s house They are not the direct object of investigation by the Prosecutor’s Office, since until now a specific act has not been evidenced and mere suspicion is not valid to initiate an investigation.
In one of the trials of the fugitive César HinostrozaOn November 27, the Special Criminal Chamber of the Supreme Court issued a resolution that recalls that, in accordance with article 203 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, to initiate an investigation there must be concrete evidence and not mere conjectures.
That is, starting from an element that evidences the existence of an event, the participation of the investigated person and the time in which the crime could be committed.
YOU CAN SEE: PL to impeach presidents during term would generate confusion and instability, according to experts
“In any case, suspicions must be based on objective data and not on emotional circumstances”, the supreme court specified, citing the superior prosecutor Carlos Cabrera Carcovich.
In addition, it emphasizes that the law prohibits going hunting to see what a suspect is found, but that any investigation must start from a previous data.
In this sense, in relation to the house on Sarratea Street in Breña, the Prosecutor’s Office has already initiated an investigation into the former Secretary of the Presidency Bruno pacheco and Termirex company advisor, Karelim López.
Lobbyist. Karelim López and Breña’s house. Photo: broadcast
YOU CAN SEE: Producer of Cuarto Poder spoke after criticism of Sunday’s ‘audio bombs’
The concrete evidence is that she would have visited Bruno Pacheco, in the Government Palace and in Breña, the days before and after the construction company Termirex won a tender in Provías Nacional, as part of the Consortium Tarata III Bridge.
In addition, there is the investigation initiated against Bruno Pacheco by the presumed pressure that he would have placed on Sunat to favor the Deltron Group. Likewise, the investigation for illicit enrichment from the finding of the 20 thousand dollars in cash.
The same happens in the investigation started at former Defense Minister Walter Ayala and the aforementioned Secretary of the Presidency for an alleged influence peddling and abuse of authority that would have occurred in the promotions this year in the military institutes.
Ex minister. Walter Ayala and the military promotions. Photo: broadcast
YOU CAN SEE: Fernando Tuesta: “Castillo won because he will not go to Congress, but if he does not take action, this will return”
These are facts that have concrete evidence, certain identified actors: Pacheco, López, Ayala, and a time frame, which allows the intervention of the Public Ministry.
From investigating these characters, Other evidence or specific data may arise that support expanding the inquiry to other people and reaching the President of the Republic.
Terrorism
Free Peru. The investigation for alleged terrorism initiated against Vladimir Cerrón, former Prime Minister Guido Bellido and Congressman Guillermo Bemejo He could also jump to the president as a candidate for Peru Libre.
Expremier. In an investigation for links with the Shining Path. Photo: John Reyes / The Republic
