Peru president’s brother held in corruption probe
Dina Boluarte, Peru’s beleaguered president, faces further turmoil as her brother, Nicanor Boluarte, has been apprehended for his alleged complicity in a corruption network.
Prosecutors claim Nicanor leveraged authority granted by his sister to allocate funds to regional officials and mayors in return for illicit payments, an accusation he refutes. Alongside Nicanor, arrest warrants target 21 individuals, including Mateo Castañeda, legal counsel to President Boluarte.
This development follows a recent scandal involving a raid on the president’s residence regarding undisclosed Rolex watches.
Nicanor Boluarte, aged 64, stands accused of orchestrating a corrupt scheme to install officials nationwide, allegedly in exchange for financial gain and support in forming a political party, Citizens for Peru, which he purportedly sought to lead.
Concurrently, prosecutors assert that Castañeda impeded the investigation into Boluarte. Castañeda, who advises President Boluarte amidst the “Rolexgate” controversy, also denies any wrongdoing. The televised arrests of both Boluarte and Castañeda, as well as police searches of their residences, have gripped the nation.
Peru’s judiciary, via a post on X (formerly Twitter), disclosed the issuance of a 10-day “preliminary detention” order for Nicanor Boluarte and others implicated in the case.
At a public event on Friday, President Boluarte did not make reference to the arrests but said she trusted Peru’s justice system.
“We will not be distracted by minor matters, we believe in justice, we believe in the reasonableness of those who administer justice in the country, and in that regard the government will continue to bet on democracy and to respect the constitution,” she said.
Reuters Dina Boluarte, pictured in February 2023Reuters
This is the latest saga in what has been a scandal-hit presidency for Ms Boluarte.
In January 2023, just weeks after taking office, an inquiry was launched into Ms Boluarte and some of her key ministers over charges of “genocide, qualified homicide and serious injuries”.
It followed the death of more than 50 supporters of ex-President Pedro Castillo in a government crackdown on demonstrations calling for her resignation and fresh elections.
Mr Castillo, a left-wing politician, was arrested in December 2022 for trying to dissolve Congress.
He was dismissed by Parliament and is now imprisoned while being investigated for alleged corruption and rebellion.
Human rights groups accuse the military and the police of excessive use of force and of firing indiscriminately at protesters.
