Lima, Peru — Over the weekend, Peru’s Public Ministry raided the house of the nation’s Inside Minister, Juan José Santibáñez, as a part of an investigation into alleged abuse of authority.
Moreover, the Public Ministry has requested a journey ban for the minister. Nevertheless, Santibáñez had already traveled to Europe to attend a convention in Belgium and The Hague, Netherlands.
Regardless of the accusations in opposition to him, President Dina Boluarte defended her minister. Throughout her presentation on the Emergency Operations Middle (COEN), the president questioned the actions of the Public Ministry and instructed that the raid was a part of a method to weaken her authorities.
“They will raid the properties of all of the ministers if they need, they will raid the places of work of all of the ministers if the Public Ministry orders it, which is enjoying together with this dangerous press to stage a coup,” Boluarte declared in a press convention.
Lawyer and former anti-corruption prosecutor Martín Salas stated on Monday that President Boluarte’s perspective and her Cupboard’s response to the investigations into the Inside Minister replicate “desperation” and an try to hinder justice.
“Undoubtedly [Boluarte] is determined and scared, and has no higher instrument than to assault each the judicial system and public info media,” he declared. He additionally identified that the president’s statements in opposition to the Public Ministry are a transparent try to hinder the investigation. “This warrants a constitutional grievance,” he affirmed.
The investigation into Santibáñez is predicated on a two-and-a-half-hour audio given to the Public Ministry by Nationwide Police Captain Junior Izquierdo. Within the recording, the minister allegedly confesses that Boluarte made the deactivation of the Directorate In opposition to Corruption of the Nationwide Police (Diviac) a situation to ensure that him to tackle the Inside Ministry. This revelation led to a courtroom order to raid his dwelling and ministerial workplace.
José Carlos Mejía, lawyer for Captain Izquierdo, sharply criticized the Inside Minister and questioned his declare that the investigation was based mostly on “gossip.”
“If the preparatory investigation decide dominated that the search request was justified, is the decide additionally performing wrongly, in accordance with the minister’s speculation?” the lawyer requested in an interview with Peru21 TV.
The lawyer additionally warned a couple of doable try by the Government Department to weaken the Public Ministry. He highlighted the function of the unbiased press in revealing alleged corruption circumstances and urged worldwide organizations to stay vigilant concerning the state of affairs in Peru.
“Because of the press, the general public can find out about corruption acts within the Government, Legislative, and Judicial branches. It’s regarding that the media are being accused of colluding with the Public Ministry to stage a coup,” he said.
Not too long ago, one other accusation in opposition to Santibáñez was revealed, this time regarding actions previous to his tenure as minister. Two protected witnesses testified earlier than the Public Ministry that Santibáñez, in his function as a lawyer, allegedly requested $60,000 to affect judicial selections.
The case continues to be underneath investigation and is producing controversy, whereas Boluarte’s authorities faces a rising institutional disaster.
