Peru's Judicial Branch on Monday rejected ex-President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski's request to leave the South American nation.
The former leader had asked permission to travel to the United States by claiming medical purposes.
"The travel authorization is not applicable. However, we could accept the fact that Kuczynski —as a heart disease patient— might undergo a treatment abroad, but the defense has not demonstrated such treatment is not available in the country," Sanchez affirmed.
The only exception, he explained, is when the accused's life is at risk and the treatment cannot be carried out in Peru, but this must be determined by the Public Ministry's Legal Medicine Institute.
The ex-President's lawyer Cesar Nakazaki announced he will appeal the judge's decision.
Travel restrictions
Kuczynski was barred from leaving the country on March 24, following a request from the Prosecutor's Office.
According to Anticorruption Prosecutor Hamilton Castro, the request was based on the need to conduct a preliminary investigation into Kuczynski for alleged payments by corruption-tainted Odebrecht to Westfield Capital and First Capital, both of them linked to him.
The order prohibits Kuczynski from leaving the Inca nation for 18 months while the investigation is ongoing.
(END) FHG/RMB/MVB
Published: 7/30/2018