Jose Miguel Castro Gutierrez, former municipal manager of Lima,
He had been seeking a cooperating witness status in the case over alleged acts of corruption in Susana Villaran's anti-recall campaign, which had been disclosed to the Public Ministry (Prosecutor's Office).
Castro Gutierrez —an economist with experience in both public and private sectors— served as Lima's municipal manager during Susana Villaran's administration (2011–2014) —a period in which alleged corruption acts involving the Brazilian construction companies OAS and Odebrecht are believed to have taken place.
Former Odebrecht representative in Peru, Jorge Barata, told the Public Ministry that Castro had allegedly requested contributions to finance both the anti-recall campaign and Villaran's re-election bid in exchange for favors related to the Rutas de Lima (Routes of Lima) Project.
According to the Lava Jato Case Special Prosecution Group, the company OAS also allegedly contributed to those campaigns in exchange for the expansion of the Linea Amarilla (Yellow Line) Project.
Due to these events, the Prosecutor's Office in July 2018 formally opened a preparatory investigation against the former Lima mayor for the alleged crimes of bribery and money laundering. The investigation included Jose Miguel Castro as well.
In May 2019, Villaran admitted to being aware of the contributions made by Odebrecht and OAS to her campaigns, stating that she had made the decision to accept the funds along with her former municipal manager, Jose Miguel Castro.
That same year, Jose Miguel Castro asked Lava Jato case prosecutors to be admitted as a cooperating witness.
According to Prosecutor Jose Domingo Perez, Castro Gutierrez provided information that led to opening a new investigation into officials and executives from the Lima Municipality involved in the Linea Amarilla Project and to request the suspension of toll collections.
Key witness
This situation made Castro Gutierrez one of the most important witnesses in the oral trial against Susana Villaran and the other defendants in the case, which is set to begin on September 23 under the Judiciary's Third National Criminal Court.
Castro Gutierrez was also included in the case as a defendant, accused of alleged offenses including organized crime, money laundering, corruption of public officials, among others, to the detriment of the Peruvian State. The Prosecutor's Office requested a 25-year prison sentence for him.
According to Prosecutor Jose Domingo Perez, Castro Gutierrez went to the Public Prosecutor's Office last Tuesday to inquire about his cooperating witness status, which was scheduled to conclude on July 12.
Castro Gutierrez hoped his legal status in the case would change prior to the start of the oral trial.
He did not report any threats or situations that might have put his life at risk.
Prosecutor Jose Domingo Perez stated that, following Castro Gutierrez's death, he will request that the Judiciary read out the statements the former official gave during the investigation phase, as they have already been admitted by the court to be used during the proceedings.