A Peruvian Supreme Judge is evaluating this Wednesday the prosecutor’s request for 18 months of preventive detention for former Peruvian President Pedro Castillowho is being investigated for the alleged commission of the crime of rebellion, as a result of the failed coup d’état that led to his dismissal.
The Judiciary confirmed on Twitter that the request will be reviewed from 09:30 local time (14:30 GMT) by Supreme Judge Juan Carlos Checkley, in charge of the Supreme Preparatory Investigation Court.
This magistrate approved during the night of this Tuesday the formalization of the preparatory investigation against Castillo and his former prime minister and legal adviser Aníbal Torres for the alleged commission of the crime of rebellion and others.
Checkley specified that Castillo will be investigated as an alleged co-perpetrator of the crimes of rebellion Y conspiracyas well as the alleged perpetrator of the crimes of authority abuse and serious disturbance of public tranquility.
They are also investigating Aníbal Torres, Prime Minister and Castillo’s legal adviser.
Torres, in his capacity as adviser to the Presidency of the Council of Ministers at the time of the events, he will be investigated as an alleged co-perpetrator in the crimes of rebellion and conspiracy.
After the judge’s decision, Supreme Prosecutor Uriel Teran, in charge of the Second Transitory Supreme Prosecutor’s Office Specialized in Crimes committed by Public Officials, presented the request for 18 months of preventive detention against Castillo and Torres.
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A source linked to the investigation told EFE that this request opens the possibility of extending Castillo’s preliminary detention. This should culminate in principle around noon this Wednesday.
For his part, the jurist Carlos Caro assured on Twitter that having filed the prosecutor’s request for preventive detention “the detention is maintained until the hearing is carried out and the Judge of the Preliminary Investigation decides.”
Castillo asks supporters for support
Both Castillo and Torres asked their followers on Tuesday to meet from noon on the outskirts of the Diroes prison.in the Lima district of Ate, where Castillo is serving preliminary detention.
Local media reported that surveillance at the site has been reinforced by a large contingent of National Police agents in anticipation of disturbances.
Unlike Castillo, Torres is free and went into hiding when he learned of the accusation against him presented by the Peruvian attorney general, Patricia Benavides.
The investigation has been described as “complex” by the Public Ministry and will last eight months.
This Tuesday, Supreme Judge César San Martín rejected the appeal that Castillo’s defense filed against his preliminary detention. He pointed out that, with what was raised by the Prosecutor’s Office, the former president can be prosecuted at least for attempted rebellion or conspiracy. For these charges, he would face between 5 and 10 years in jail.
During that hearing, Castillo expressed, remotely from prison, that he had not committed “any crime of conspiracy or rebellion.” In addition, he maintained that he is “unfairly and arbitrarily detained.”
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