Six people, including three senior police officers, were arrested in Peru on Monday for their alleged involvement in a corruption case linked to ousted former president Pedro Castillo, the Interior Ministry announced.
“Police agents, in coordination with the Public Prosecutor’s Office, carried out a mega operation which led to the arrest of six people allegedly involved in a corruption case linked to irregular promotions in the police force”, indicates a statement.
The ministry specifies that among those arrested are “three active police generals”. They would be involved in the granting of promotions, validated by Mr. Castillo, in exchange for money.
These arrests took place during a police operation including searches in several cities including Lima.
In the capital, two residences of the former Minister of Defense, Walter Ayala, who is also the subject of an investigation in this case, were searched and various documents seized.
The Public Ministry is investigating Pedro Castillo and Walter Ayala for the alleged offenses of illegal sponsorship and criminal organization.
Former Army commander General José Vizcarra and former Air Force chief Jorge Chaparro claimed in November 2021 that the government pressured them to promote officers who did not meet the required conditions.
Pedro Castillo was deposed and then arrested on December 7 after he attempted to dissolve Parliament and announced that he wanted to govern by decree, an action described as a “coup d’etat” by Parliament and for which he is being prosecuted for “rebellion” and “conspiracy “.
A teacher of rural origin, he governed for less than a year and a half, a period marked by a deep political crisis.