Andina

Peru: Former Congressman Villanueva taken to prison for preventive detention

21:57 | Lima, Dec. 16.

Ex-Congressman and former Prime Minister Cesar Villanueva on Monday evening was transferred to Miguel Castro Castro prison in Lima's San Juan de Lurigancho district, where he will serve 18-month preventive detention.

Earlier, the Judicial Branch ordered Villanueva to be confined to prison with the purpose of serving 18-month preventive detention, after being discharged from a clinic where he was staying since December 2.

The measure was established within the framework of the preventive detention issued against him for the alleged crime of specific passive bribery and others, the Superior Court of Justice Specialized in Organized Crime and Corruption reported.


The preventive detention was also imposed on Marco Diaz —former manager of Proyecto Especial Huallaga Central (Central Huallaga Special Project) when Villanueva served as Governor.

While explaining his decision, the magistrate affirmed that there is a risk of flight, obstruction, and —in the case of Villanueva— the possibility of once again trying to penetrate the Lava Jato Case Special Prosecution Group in charge of investigating the case.

For the judge, there was a proven obstruction of the investigation, and Villanueva sought to prevent the case from being prosecuted.


(END) VVS/CVC/MVB

Published: 12/16/2019