Thursday, December 5

Former advisor to the former president of Peru Pedro Castillo is arrested in the US for corruption

Deutsche Welle

The Peruvian Alejandro Sánchez, former advisor to former President Pedro Castillo (2021-2022) accused of a corruption case and wanted by the Justice of the Andean country since October 2022, was detained by a border patrol in Texas (United States), reported this Friday the Chancellery.

Sánchez was arrested after trying to irregularly cross the border with Mexico, in the town of Eagle Pass, information that was transferred by the US authorities to the Consulate General of Peru in Houston, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs detailed in a brief statement.

The person detained today is one of the alleged members of an alleged criminal organization, whose purpose was to obtain “illegal profits” through irregularities in the awarding of public works, a case called “Shadow Cabinet.”

His whereabouts were unknown since last October 11, when he had to appear before the Justice, which had issued a preliminary detention order for 10 days against the entire investigated group, after a police operation in which prosecutors raided homes and offices of those involved.

Foreign Ministry manages delivery to Peru

Sánchez owns a house in Lima that Castillo used to meet with his friends and businessmen shortly after his election as president, which was seized in July by the Judiciary.

The Prosecutor’s Office indicated that the group, allegedly led by Castillo, carried out illegal acts in public procurement since June 2021, with the absence of formal meetings and appointments to the Government Palace, Congress or the Ministries of Economy and Housing.

The Public Ministry of Peru also accused the organization of building protection networks, carrying out the cover-up of those investigated, acts of defamation and persecution against the investigating entities.

Sánchez is currently detained in the “Del Rio Detention Center” in Texas, and the Foreign Ministry “has been carrying out negotiations with the relevant North American authorities in order to achieve his prompt expulsion to our country, to face Peruvian justice.”