The Judiciary on Thursday sentenced former President Pedro Castillo to 11 years, 5 months, and 15 days of effective imprisonment for the crime of conspiracy to commit rebellion in the failed coup attempt.
According to the advance ruling issued this afternoon by the Judiciary —10 days before the third anniversary of the attempted constitutional breakdown led by Castillo on December 7, 2022— the prison term he is already serving will conclude on May 21, 2034, after deducting the time he has been in custody since his arrest.
Similarly, the former Head of State was handed a two-year disqualification from holding public office.
The Special Criminal Chamber of the Supreme Court, which is handling the case, also issued guilty verdicts against former Prime Minister Betssy Chavez, former Chief Adviser to the Presidency of the Council of Ministers (PCM) Anibal Torres, and former Interior Minister Willy Huerta.
Likewise, authorities ordered her location and arrest at both the national and international levels. She was disqualified from holding public office for 2 years.
Former Prime Minister Anibal Torres was sentenced to 6 years and 6 months in prison, as well as 1 year of disqualification.
Meanwhile, Willy Huerta was sentenced to 11 years, 5 months, and 15 days in prison, along with a two-year disqualification. In both cases, the execution of their sentences was suspended.
The Criminal Chamber read the advance ruling today during a hearing held at Barbadillo Prison in Lima. The full sentence reading is scheduled for Thursday, December 4.
Civil damages
The Judiciary also ordered the payment of S/12 million (US$3.55 million) in civil damages in this criminal case.
This amount must be paid jointly and severally by Castillo, Chavez, Torres, and Huerta.
The guilty verdict was adopted by majority, by the Chairman of said Criminal Chamber, Jose Neyra Flores and Judge Norma Carbajal voting in favor. On the other hand, the third panel member, Ivan Guerrero Lopez, issued a dissenting opinion.
The sentence was read this afternoon during a hearing held at Barbadillo Prison, where the former Head of State is incarcerated following his arrest for attempting to undermine the constitutional order on December 7, 2022.
Conspiracy for rebellion
In its ruling, the panel determined that through his address to the Nation, Pedro Castillo "usurped the exercise of power" by attempting to dissolve Congress and interfere with the justice system, among other announcements.
The panel determined that "in sum, with respect to the sentenced individuals Castillo Terrones, Chavez Chino, Huerta Oliva, and Torres Vasquez, the typical elements of the crime of conspiracy to commit rebellion were fulfilled."
"The offense of conspiracy for rebellion constitutes a lesser-intensity form compared to the crime of rebellion, as the conduct does not materialize the typical result," the court stated.
During the reading of the advance ruling, the Criminal Chamber determined that following the address, Castillo, Torres, and Chavez greeted and hugged as a sign of approval of the message delivered by the former top official.
Regarding Chavez, the ruling determined that it is a "proven fact" that she assisted in coordinating the entry of TVPeru journalists for the reading of the address to the Nation.
It was also established that the then-Prime Minister was the one who summoned the ministers through the "Gabinete Bicentenario" (Bicentennial Cabinet) WhatsApp group.
Regarding Anibal Torres, the ruling states that he drafted the address to the Nation on a computer at the Presidency of the Council of Ministers on December 6, 2022, which was read the following day by Castillo.
On the other hand, the other individuals implicated in this case were acquitted: Peruvian National Police (PNP) General Manuel Lozada Morales due to doubt about his participation in the crime of rebellion; Justo Venero due to insufficient evidence; and Eder Infanzon because it was not proven that he committed the crime of rebellion. The latter remains a fugitive from justice.