Status: 12/16/2022 5:03 am
After his dismissal as Peru’s head of state, Pedro Castillo has to remain in custody for 18 months. A judge decided that because there was a risk of absconding. Outside the court, Castillo’s supporters protested.
Amid increasingly violent protests on the streets of Peru, the Supreme Court has ordered an additional 18 months in custody for President Pedro Castillo, who was ousted by parliament. The court announced this via Twitter after a hearing.
According to this, the law enforcement authorities want to investigate the charge of rebellion against Castillo, who faces more than four years in prison.
Castillo and his lawyers refused to take part in the virtual hearing, arguing that there were no “minimum guarantees”. The ex-head of state was represented by a public defender.
Government declares state of emergency
Castillo tried last week to dissolve parliament and rule by decree. Parliament then removed him from office. Castillo was arrested, prosecutors accuse him of violating the constitutional order.
Peru has been plagued by unrest since Castillo’s ouster. In the face of violent protests, the new government recently declared a national emergency for 30 days, during which the right of assembly and freedom of movement will be restricted. This should give the military additional powers to work with the police to protect infrastructure, private property and the security of all citizens, as Defense Secretary Luis Otarola Peñaranda said.