Police clash amid burning barricades with demonstrators demanding the resignation of President Dina Boluarte and lawmakers, as well as an immediate election, the freedom of ousted President Pedro Castillo and justice for the dead, during a a mobilization near the North Pan-American Highway in Chao, northwest Peru, Friday, Feb. 17, 2023. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)

LIMA (AP) — Peru’s parliament on Friday approved ousted President Pedro Castillo’s constitutional indictment for prosecution as anti-government protesters demanding an immediate election and the resignation of President Dina Boluarte staged clashes with police.

Castillo, who is imprisoned in Lima, faces charges of alleged corruption, criminal organization and money laundering, with which the prosecutor’s office will be able to prosecute him in court because his immunity has been lifted.

The decision was approved with 59 votes for, 23 against and 3 abstentions. The legislative resolution says the charge against Castillo is allowed because the former president allegedly led a corrupt circle — made up of friends and family — in awarding public works contracts. Two other former Castillo ministers – Juan Silva and Geiner Alvarado – were also included.

The prosecution’s hypothesis was first presented on October 11, 2022 before Parliament, under the Castillo administration, which began its brief government on July 28, 2021.

Protesters demanding the resignation of Boluarte and lawmakers, immediate elections, freedom for Castillo and justice for protesters killed by police, clashed with officers on the North Pan American Highway in Chao, Viru province, in the northeast of the country.

On December 7, Pedro Castillo was removed from office by Congress and arrested shortly after attempting to dissolve Parliament, in a move that was not supported by either the army or the police.

Castillo – on remand in an exclusive prison in Lima for former presidents – was called by parliament to exercise his defense by videoconference, but the former president asked to attend the Legislative Assembly in person, a request that did not was not accepted.

After Castillo’s ouster, Congress named its then vice president, Dina Boluarte, as his successor, who took office on December 7. Since that date, anti-government protests have been sparked across the country that have claimed 60 lives, including 48 in clashes with security forces.

Categorized in:

World

Tagged in:

, , , , ,