Peru’s Attorney General, Patricia Benavides, has filed a constitutional complaint against former Peruvian President Pedro Castillo before the Peruvian Congress on Monday for alleged crimes of rebellion and conspiracy.
The complaint covers not only Castillo, but also the former Prime Minister, Betssy Chávez; his predecessor in office, Aníbal Torres; the former Minister of the Interior, Willy Huerta, and his counterpart of Foreign Trade, Roberto Sánchez, as reported by the Peruvian radio station RPP.
The document presented by Benavides points out Castillo as «alleged co-author» of a crime against the powers of the State and the constitutional order in the form of rebellion, as well as another crime against the Public Administration for abuse of authority and disturbance of the public tranquility.
In the case of Chavez, Huerta and Sanchez, the National Prosecutor points her out as alleged co-perpetrator of the crime against the powers of the State and the constitutional order in the form of rebellion and conspiracy.
According to the Peruvian Penal Code, former President Castillo could be sentenced to between ten and 20 years in prison, as reported by the Andina News Agency.
The Congress of the Republic has withdrawn this Monday the special immunity of former president Castillo, thus lifting the prerogative of impeachment that the Andean president enjoyed until now.
Last Wednesday, Castillo announced the dissolution of the Parliament -to avoid a motion of censure against him- and the implementation of a Government of exception. The measures did not obtain the necessary support to go ahead and, finally, the President was removed from office and arrested by the Prosecutor’s Office.
After this episode, the person who until then had been his ‘number two’, Dina Boluarte, was appointed President of Peru. This decision has aroused unease among certain sectors of the population, who have staged demonstrations against it.
