Peru’s top judge, Juan Carlos Checkley, ordered a seven-day remand this Thursday for former president Pedro Castillo, who is being investigated for alleged rebellion crimes, after shutting down parliament and declaring an emergency government. . In his initial court appearance, Castillo appeared distressed as he gave simple yes-or-no answers, and his lawyer argued that he had been arbitrarily removed from Peru’s presidency on trumped-up charges of rebellion, the AP reports.
The Supreme Court of Preparatory Investigation of Judge Juan Carlos Checkley has a seven-day pretrial detention against former President Pedro Castillo, who was investigated for the crime of rebellion (alternatively conspiracy),” the court said on its official Twitter account.
Checkley assessed this Thursday morning, in a virtual hearing, the tax request that called for this measure against the former president, who has been in prison since Wednesday in Lima, the same prison where former president Alberto Fujimori (1990-2000) is serving time. He was sentenced to 25 years in prison.
In the ruling shared by the court, the judge also declares Castillo’s “lawfulness of detention” and states that the pretrial detention period “will take effect from December 7 to 13.”
During the hearing, Deputy Attorney General Marco Huaman assured that the former president’s “high probability of escape” was evident, after mentioning Castillo’s intention to go to the Mexican embassy to request asylum, which was confirmed by the country’s president, Andres Manuel. Lopez Obrador. In addition, Castillo ratified this Thursday with the Mexican ambassador to the Andean country, Pablo Monroi, a request to grant asylum to the Mexican government.
Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard said on his Twitter account that Mexico has started consultations with Peruvian authorities to implement asylum procedures. “Ambassador Pablo Monroy tells me from Lima that he was able to meet with Pedro Castillo at the penitentiary at 1:20 p.m. local time. “He was found physically well and surrounded by his lawyer,” wrote Ebraldi. “We have continued consultations with the Peruvian authorities. I will let you know,” he continued.
Huaman noted that the arrest of the former head of state is “necessary” to ensure investigative actions and accused Castillo of illegally and fraudulently changing the constitutional model of the rule of law.
Castillo also participated in the hearing virtually, accompanied by his lawyer Victor Perez and his former prime minister Anibal Torres, who is also defending him. At the end of the hearing, Checkley allowed the ex-president to speak, but he limited himself to saying “all these things” that his lawyers had told him.
In his speech, Torres assured that no “coercive or coercive means” were used during Castillo’s arrest, but he argued that the process “grossly violates the principle of legality” given that no crime has been proven. the former president.
Along the same lines, Pérez insisted that Castillo’s announcement to close parliament did not imply an armed rebellion, which he said requires the crime of rebellion, and denied that there is a risk of escape, for which he asked the judge. to be announced without grounds. Request of the Ministry of Public Affairs. “My client’s statements in his message do not amount to the crime of sedition (…) how can a person want to flee when they have not committed the alleged crimes they are accused of,” Perez said.
This Wednesday, the Public Ministry announced preliminary proceedings against Castillo for rebellion and conspiracy, while the former president remained detained in the prefecture of Lima, allegedly for “violation of constitutional order”, after ordering a temporary shutdown and the creation of parliament. National Emergency Government. The order was widely interpreted as an “attempted coup”, including by members of his cabinet.
The measure did not win the support of the majority of the now former members of his government, nor of the armed forces, the national police, the constitutional court and the judiciary. A few hours later, Congress considered a third impeachment request against him, which was finally approved by 101 of the 130 lawmakers who make up Peru’s lower house.
Source: El Diario
