Judge in Peru has mandated a five-month pre-trial detention for ex-president Martín Vizcarra
Former Peruvian President Martín Vizcarra has been ordered to serve five months of pre-trial detention, making him the latest in a line of four former Peruvian presidents to face imprisonment. Vizcarra, who served as president from 2018 to 2020, is accused of receiving bribes totaling around $640,000 from construction companies linked to public works contracts.
The investigation into the alleged bribes began during Vizcarra's term in 2020, and on November 9 of that year, accusations allowed Parliament to remove him from office for "permanent moral incapacity." Two businessmen have testified in the trial that they paid the bribes.
Vizcarra denies the charges and claims political persecution. He has appealed the detention order and faces a potential 15-year sentence if convicted. Vizcarra has also requested the Inter-American Court of Human Rights to issue a precautionary measure that suspends his disqualifications and allows him to run for president.
The judge ordered Vizcarra's imprisonment due to an "imminent risk of flight" as the trial is expected to be completed in six months. The prison where Vizcarra is likely to serve his sentence is a facility built exclusively for imprisoned former presidents, which was inaugurated in 2007 to house former president Alberto Fujimori.
Fujimori, who served as president from 1990 to 2000, was imprisoned for more than 15 years and was released in 2023. He was convicted for being the intellectual author of the murder of 25 Peruvians during his government.
Other former presidents who have been imprisoned include Alejandro Toledo (2001-2006) and Ollanta Humala (2011-2016). Toledo received money from the Brazilian construction company Odebrecht, and Humala was sentenced to 15 years in prison for money laundering in the Odebrecht case.
Currently, Pedro Castillo, former president of Peru (2021-2022), is serving three years of preventive imprisonment while being investigated for alleged corruption. Castillo's case involves ongoing criminal investigations into corruption during his administration, fueling widespread anti-corruption protests in Peru. The country continues to experience political instability and legitimacy crises due to systemic corruption permeating various levels of government.
In summary, the current political landscape in Peru is marked by the imprisonment of all former presidents on corruption or other serious allegations. The country is facing deep political turmoil, and former president Martín Vizcarra is the latest to join the ranks of imprisoned leaders.
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