Andina

Peru: Judge orders Villanueva be sent to prison for preventive detention

15:15 | Lima, Dec. 16.

The Third Preparatory Investigation Court on Monday ordered ex-Congressman and former Prime Minister Cesar 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.

This morning, Villanueva was discharged from a clinic and brought before the judge of the Third Preparatory Investigation Court Specialized in Corruption Offenses Committed by Public Officials, Jorge Chavez Tamariz.


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