(Lima) A Peruvian judge on Thursday extended the preventive detention of former president Pedro Castillo, accused of corruption, from 18 to 36 months, announced justice.
“The Supreme Court of Preparatory Investigation imposes 36 months of preventive detention on Pedro Castillo”, declared the Peruvian justice on Twitter, specifying that the former head of state was notably accused of being “the leader of a criminal organization “.
The decision was announced by Judge Juan Carlos Checkley during a virtual hearing. “We will do what the law allows me, we will appeal,” reacted Mr. Castillo, who attended from his prison.
The magistrate also ordered a 36-month preventive detention for the fugitive former transport minister Juan Silva, while an ex-housing minister, Geiner Alvarado, will remain free during the trial.
After the failure of his attempt to dissolve Parliament, Mr. Castillo was removed from office and taken on December 7 to Barbadillo prison, a mini-detention center for senior civil servants located in the premises of the operations directorate. police stations, east of Lima.
At an earlier hearing on Tuesday, Mr Castillo said he felt “unjustly kidnapped”, denying the corruption charges for which he will remain in prison.
“I categorically deny being the author and being part of a criminal network. The only crime I have committed is to serve my country as President of the Republic,” he pleaded.
In a vehement tone, he defended himself against the charges brought against him: “They are going to ask for 36 months in prison while I have been placed in pre-trial detention. I will reach 100 days of unjust confinement! »
The prosecution believes that Mr. Castillo was at the head of a network of corruption, money laundering and public procurement made up of his family and political environment.
The 53-year-old former president was deposed and imprisoned in December, accused of having attempted a coup by wanting to dissolve the Parliament which was preparing to oust him from power.
His fall and his replacement by his former vice-president Dina Boluarte provoked a wave of demonstrations across the country, which left around 50 dead and around 600 injured.
Supporters of Mr. Castillo demand the resignation of Mr.me Boluarte, the dissolution of Parliament and new elections this year.