MADRID, 10 Mar. (EUROPA PRESS) –

The Judiciary of Peru has extended this Thursday from 18 to 36 months the preventive detention of the former president of Peru Pedro Castillo, accused of leading a criminal organization.

Judge Juan Carlos Checkley has also ordered preventive detention against the former Minister of Transport and Communications Juan Silva, who has been a fugitive from justice since last year, for which he has requested his capture. Likewise, the magistrate has requested the appearance of Geiner Alvarado, former head of Housing, as well as the payment of 35,000 Peruvian soles (8,700 euros).

Castillo, who is already serving 18 months in pretrial detention for alleged rebellion after announcing on December 7 the dissolution of Congress and the establishment of an emergency government, has been sentenced to three years in prison for alleged rigging of public works contracts during his mandate.

The former president has denied having organized a coup, as well as having participated in the rigging of public contracts.