During the hearing held this Wednesday, Castillo’s lawyer, Wilfredo Robles, accused the Prosecutor’s Office of showing “an eagerness to accumulate crimes” once morest the former president and said that there are insufficient grounds to maintain preventive detention.
The Supreme Court of Peru determined this Thursday that the former president Pedro Castillo continue in jail, by rejecting the appeal filed by his defense once morest the 18 months of pretrial detention which he received on December 15.
This, a week following being removed for trying to dissolve Congress and rule by decree.
“The Permanent Criminal Chamber of the Supreme Court ratifies a resolution that ordered 18 months of preventive detention once morest former President Pedro Castillo, investigated for the crime of rebellion once morest the State,” said the Judiciary. in a message posted on Twitter.
The court, chaired by Judge César San Martín, also varied the order to appear with restrictions imposed in the first instance.
The foregoing once morest former Prime Minister Aníbal Torres and prevented him from leaving the country for 18 months.
In the resolution, the Supreme Court declared the appeal filed by Castillo’s defense “unfounded” and the Prosecutor’s request to change Torres’ situation “founded in part.”
In this way, he confirmed the decision made in the first instance by Supreme Judge Juan Carlos Checkley.
This is a judge who indicated that he had found “founded elements of conviction” of the alleged commission of the crimes of rebellion, conspiracy, abuse of authority and serious disturbance of public tranquility.
The position of the defense
Castle’s lawyer Wilfredo Robles, He maintained that Castillo did not call to rise up in arms during the message he offered on December 7 and also alleged that he has work ties, since he must return to his teaching position in a rural school in the north of the country.
The lawyer considered that there is no danger of flight and wondered if his client has to serve pretrial detention for the support given by other leaders.
This, in reference to the predisposition that the Government of Mexico has expressed to grant him political asylum.
Castillo also intervened in the hearing and, following affirming that the pretrial detention he is serving is unfair and a political revenge, he asked for his release.
“I have never committed a crime of rebellion. I have not taken up arms and I have not called anyone to take up arms either, but I must say that the one who took up arms to end the lives of more than 30 Peruvians is the current Government.
This was how he maintained it regarding the 28 people who have died in protests that have taken place in the country in recent weeks.
The former president has been detained since December 7, when he was arrested following announcing in a speech that he was going to dissolve Congress.
Added to this was governing by decree, intervening in the Judiciary and calling a constituent assembly, which has been widely interpreted as a failed coup attempt.
Permanent Criminal Chamber of the Supreme Court #ratifies resolution that ordered 18 months of preventive detention once morest former president #PedroCastilloinvestigated for the crime of rebellion (alternatively, conspiracy to rebellion) once morest the State. pic.twitter.com/jZCUjzgytq
– Judicial Power Peru (@Poder_Judicial_) December 29, 2022
Arguments of the Peruvian Prosecutor’s Office once morest Pedro Castillo
For her part, Deputy Supreme Prosecutor Silvia Sack Ramos explained that the Public Ministry requests that Castillo continue in prison due to the seriousness of the coup attempt and the danger of flight.
He also asked that the restricted appearance issued for Torres, who was Castillo’s legal adviser, be revoked.
In addition, it was requested that the process continue in preventive detention since, according to his words, this “was not a simple spectator” of the ex-governor’s announcement and participated in its design and planning.
When ordering preventive detention once morest Castillo, the judge took the measure because the former ruler faces the possibility of receiving at least four years in prison.
As a result of this, there was a risk of flight, since he had tried to go to the Mexican Embassy in Peru to request asylum.
