The former president of Peru Pedro Castillo (2021-2022) was sentenced this Thursday to 11 years, 5 months and 15 days in prison for the crime of conspiracy to rebel, following the failed coup attempt that he carried out on December 7, 2022. The 56-year-old former president was acquitted of the crimes of abuse of power and disturbing public order.
The Supreme Court resolved to “condemn José Pedro Castillo Terrones as co-author of the crime against the powers of the State and the constitutional order in the form of conspiracy for a rebellion (…) and as such, the convicted person is imposed 11 years, 5 months and 15 days of an effective custodial sentence.” The prosecution had requested 34 years in prison for all charges.
The political leader, a rural school teacher and trade unionist who against all odds won the elections in 2021, calmly received the sentence accompanied by his lawyer, according to television images of the Judiciary. The court highlighted that “Castillo was arrested in flagrante delicto for committing the crime of rebellion by having attacked the powers of the State and the constitutional order.”
Former prime minister also convicted
On the day of the events, Castillo gave a message to the nation in which he ordered the temporary dissolution of Congress (Parliament), the intervention of the Judiciary and government by decrees, following a new and imminent motion in the Legislature, dominated by the opposition, to dismiss him when evidence of alleged corruption came to light that directly affected him.
However, his statement had no effect and a few minutes later he was arrested when he had left the Government Palace in Lima and was apparently heading to the Mexican embassy, where his family did arrive and received asylum, while Castillo was hours later dismissed by Congress and sent to prison where he remains until now.
Meanwhile, Betssy Chávez, former prime minister of Peru sheltered in the residence of the Mexican embassy in Lima, was also sentenced to 11 years, 5 months and 15 days in prison for her participation in the failed coup attempt. The court also issued a new search and arrest warrant for Chávez. Source: news
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