Unpublished search in Peru; police confiscate luxury watches

LIMA (AP).— Prosecutors and police withdrew yesterday fromThe presidential palace of Peru following raiding it for several hours following the day before They forced the door of President Dina Boluarte’s house, in another area of ​​Lima, in a preliminary investigation for alleged enrichment and failure to testify to the detriment of the State.

It is the first time in the history of Peru that Prosecutors forcefully enter the home of a sitting presidentin a country accustomed to the justice system ordering searches in the homes of former presidents or issuing preventive detention for former presidents investigated for alleged corruption.

Raids on the presidential palace have occurred before.

The investigators of the investigation initiated by the attorney general’s office did not testify following spending hours in the palace.

Around midnight on Fridaya policeman broke the lock of the door of Dina Boluarte’s house with a mace following the door was not opened to initiate a first search.

⚫🔴PUBLIC COMPLAINT

Harvey Colchado is a police officer and a police officer can never under any circumstances, either in Peru or in China: order to break down any door of anything or anyone, who has to do it is a prosecutor authorized by the Judiciary (with document in hand ): he… pic.twitter.com/3fGooXxwFB

— Suriel Chacon (@suriel) March 30, 2024

The raid sought to seize three Rolex luxury watches worn by Dina Boluarte that have become the new headache for the president, who following two weeks of a journalistic complaint that revealed the use of luxury watches has not explained how they got on her right wrist.

The president has remained silent and has not been seen by the press.

The first Minister Gustavo AdrianzénHe signed to journalists that he considered the raid “illegal and unconstitutional” and added that together with the ministers they were sure “that there is definitively no type of responsibility” on the part of the president in the proceedings to which she is subject.

The president’s lawyerMateo Castañeda, He told local radio RPP that no watches were found in her house, but that “regarding 10” “beautiful” watches were found in the presidential palace where the police even searched under “the carpets.”

He did not say how many of those watches found were Rolex brands.but added that police took photos of the luxury items.

The lawyer assured that the president will testify to the prosecutor’s office on Friday, April 5.

In an unusual interview during the early hours of the morning, the prime minister told RPP radio that Dina Boluarte was in the presidential palace residence and added that what happened was not “serious,” that “a storm was being generated where there is none” and that the work of the prosecutor’s office is causing “a political noise that affects investments.”

Adrianzén stated, without providing evidence, that there is a “destabilizing intention” to hit the president led by those who “manage organized crime” and who 14 months ago demanded her dismissal in protests that left 49 civilians dead in confrontations with security forces.

The investigation once morest Dina Boluarte “in any other place, would be nothing more than an anecdote,” he added.

The attorney general, Juan Villena, who is directing the preliminary investigations, said on Tuesday that Dina Boluarte showed “a clear indicator of rebellion” in a written response to her defense, which sought to postpone the president’s exhibition and statements for two weeks due to her “ “heavy schedule.”