MADRID, 31 Jul. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Peruvian Prosecutor’s Office has summoned the country’s president, Pedro Castillo, to testify on August 4 and 9 for the cases of irregular promotions of the country’s security forces and the alleged obstruction in the capture of fugitive ministers.
“There are two dates. A first statement has been scheduled for August 4 and a second, for the cover-up case, on August 9. Both are in the morning,” said the president’s lawyer, Benji Espinoza, in statements collected by the Peruvian radio station RPP.
According to Castillo’s defense, a decision has yet to be made as to whether the prosecutor, Patricia Benavides, goes to the presidential building or if, on the contrary, it is the president who has to testify at the ministry’s headquarters.
The president has accumulated four investigations opened by the Prosecutor’s Office. However, Castillo has defended himself against the accusations: “Until now they have not been able to find proof.”
The first two investigations deal with an alleged mafia that operated in the Ministry of Transportation and Communications –Puente Tarata Case– and for alleged interference in the promotion process of the Armed Forces.
According to the Prosecutor’s Office, Castillo would be the head of a criminal organization active in the Ministry of Transport and Communications in complicity with the former holder of this portfolio, Juan Silva — who is currently wanted and captured.
Officials from Provías Nacional and Provías Descentralizado, from the Presidential Office, as well as from businessmen and third parties, all with the aim of favoring the Puente Tarata III consortium and other companies in public bidding processes, would also have participated in the criminal organization.
Likewise, the Peruvian Public Ministry has accused the president of leading an alleged criminal organization dedicated to the promotion of officers of the Armed Forces and the National Police related to the president.
The Peruvian Prosecutor’s Office announced on July 21 the opening of the third investigation against Castillo, this time for an alleged crime against the administration of justice or personal concealment, a process opened two days after former Interior Minister Mariano González denounced that the president was obstructing Justice and linked his departure from the Executive to the case opened against relatives of Castillo.
“I have no doubt that this abrupt departure is intended to obstruct the administration of Justice,” denounced the Minister of the Interior, alluding to the search for the relative of President Fray Vásquez, former presidential adviser Bruno Pacheco, and the former Minister of Commerce and Transport Juan Silva, accused of corruption.
A day later, the Public Ministry announced the opening of the fourth investigation against Castillo, after rescinding the suspension established by a judge to initiate proceedings against the president for alleged crimes for the purchase of biodiesel in Petroperú.
According to the Public Ministry, Castillo would have intervened in the purchase of biodiesel for Petroperú in favor of the company Heaven Petroleum Operators S.A., for which he is accused of a crime against the public administration and influence peddling, reported ‘El Comercio’.
