Ex Peru president Castillo sentenced to over 11 years in prison

Former Peruvian President Pedro Castillo was sentenced to 11 years, five months and 15 days in prison for attempted coup d’état.

A court in the capital Lima found the ex-president (2021-2022) guilty of conspiracy to commit rebellion. The prosecution had requested a sentence of 34 years in prison.

To preempt an imminent vote of no confidence, Castillo dissolved Congress in December 2022. He wanted to establish an emergency government and rule by decree in the future.

Congress later removed him from office for “moral incapacity.” He was arrested for attempted coup and has been in detention ever since.

The former village school teacher was supported mainly by farmers and indigenous people, who had long felt ignored by Lima’s elites and benefited little from the South American country’s economic growth.

However, Castillo, who had little political experience, came under pressure soon after taking office when ministers left his cabinet and he repeatedly clashed with Congress.

Several former presidents behind bars

In Peru, almost every head of state over the past 25 years has had problems with the justice system.

On Wednesday, Martín Vizcarra (2018-2020) was sentenced to 14 years in prison for corruption.

In April, former President Ollanta Humala (2011-2016) was sentenced to 15 years in prison for money laundering, and last year Alejandro Toledo (2001-2006) was sentenced to 20 years and six months in prison for corruption.

Former President Alan García (1985-90 and 2006-11) committed suicide in 2019 when police tried to arrest him for corruption.

Vizcarra’s predecessor, Pedro Pablo Kuczynski (2016-18), is also under investigation for alleged corruption.