Peruvian court orders ex-president Castillo three years in pre-trial detention

Peru’s Supreme Court of Investigation issued a three-year pretrial detention order for ex-president Pedro Castillo in an organized crime case following a motion by the prosecutor’s office.

In accordance with the court decision, Castillo was sentenced to 36 months in custody on charges of organizing a criminal group that committed crimes in the Petroperu oil company, as well as in the ministries of transport, housing, construction and health.

Last December, Castillo had already been placed in pre-trial detention for 18 months in connection with the rebellion. However, on new charges of organized crime and influence peddling, his detention has been extended and he could face up to 32 years in prison.

Castillo was Peru’s president before he dissolved parliament last December. Parliament was supposed to consider the impeachment of Castillo for the third time, but he was removed from office after the parliamentarians still gathered for a meeting and voted for his resignation. However, the Armed Forces and the police opposed this decision and arrested Castillo on charges of rebellion and abuse of power. After that, Dina Boluarte, who previously held the position of Vice President, took the oath as President of Peru and became the first woman to hold this position.