Former Peruvian President Pedro Castillo (2021-2022) was sentenced on Thursday to 11 years, 5 months and 15 days in prison for committing a crime. Plot to rebelThis follows the failed coup attempt that occurred on December 7, 2022.
The Special Criminal Chamber of the Supreme Court that tried Castillo considered that the former president He did not commit the crime of rebellion Because his coup intentions were not realized, and for this reason, the Public Prosecution during the trial changed the request to sentence the former head of state from 34 years in prison to the sentence that the court ultimately issued.
On the day of the events, Castillo sent a message to the nation He ordered the temporary dissolution of CongressHe intervenes in the judiciary and rules by decree, after a new imminent proposal in the opposition-dominated Legislative Council, to dismiss him when signs of alleged corruption appeared that directly affected him.
but, His statement had no effect A few minutes later, he was arrested when he left the government palace in Lima and was apparently heading to the Mexican embassy, where his family arrived and obtained asylum, while Castillo was dismissed hours later by Congress and sent to prison, where he remains until now.
The court acquitted Castillo of crimes of abuse of power and serious disturbance of public order, but imposed a sentence on him. Prohibition from holding public office for two yearsIn addition to paying compensation of 12 million soles ($3.5 million) jointly with the other defendants. Under this ruling, the former governor must remain in Barbadillo, known as the prison for former Peruvian presidents, until April 2034.
Attack on the constitutional order
For the judges, the former president and his assistants They conspired to attack the state authorities The democratic system, and at the time of his arrest, although not formally impeached by Congress, he was “de facto” president after his declaration.
The same sentence, 11 years, 5 months and 15 days, was imposed on the former Prime Minister. Betsy Chavezcurrently residing at the residence of the Mexican Embassy in Lima, due to which the court ordered a new search and arrest against her, as well as the former Minister of the Interior. Willie Huerta. However, the ruling against Huerta, who, according to witnesses, ordered the implementation of unconstitutional measures declared by Castillo, will be suspended until the second court if he appeals and follows a series of rules of conduct.
Meanwhile, the former Prime Minister and Castillo’s chief advisor at the time of the events said, Anibal TorresHe was sentenced to six years and eight months in prison. The court left him without submitting a request for humanitarian reasons due to his advanced age (82 years). For their part, former police chiefs Manuel Lozada and Justo Venero were acquitted of the charges against them.
Castillo aspired to become a senator
The judges considered it proven that Castillo, Chavez and Torres They wrote the letter the night before At the Government Palace and they knew what would happen the next day when they summoned the rest of the ministers to the presidential residence and a team from Peru’s state television channel to conduct the broadcast, concealing from them the true purpose of their invitation.
The court issued this ruling a few days before the end of the pretrial detention period that had been issued against Castillo, as he was arrested on the same day of the events, so he must be released if the ruling is not announced first.
In the weeks leading up to the sentencing, Castillo announced his intention to run for Senate By the “Together for Peru” (JP) party, led by its former minister Roberto Sánchez, whose followers arrived outside the police station where the Barbadillo prison is located to protest the ruling and demand the release of the former president.