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Peru: Judiciary Head laments removal of Judge Concepcion Carhuancho

13:04 | Lima, Jan. 16.

Peru's new Judicial Branch Chairman Jose Luis Lecaros on Wednesday lamented the decision to remove Judge Richard Concepcion Carhuancho from the investigations into Fuerza Popular political party, adding there is a possibility to appeal said situation.

Likewise, he indicated the Judiciary's Board —as an administrative body— does not influence, nor has it any responsibility concerning the jurisdictional decisions made by judges.

On Tuesday, the Second National Criminal Appeals Chamber declared the recusal against Judge Richard Concepcion Carhuancho was well founded, thus removing him from the probe on Fuerza Popular political party and its leader Keiko Fujimori.

The document was submitted by the defense of Jaime Yoshiyama, who was also ordered preventive detention but is currently based in the United States.

The request claims there are serious motives that question the judge's impartiality, due to the statements he gave to the press after ex-Attorney General Pedro Chavarry had removed prosecutors Jose Domingo Perez and Rafael Vela from the Lava Jato case. It must be noted both of them were later reinstated in their posts.

Lava Jato Case Special Prosecution Group Coordinator Rafael Vela announced his team will file an appeal to declare invalid the measure to remove the judge.

In Peru, Concepcion Carhuancho has become very popular as he ordered preventive detentions against former Presidents Alejandro Toledo, Ollanta Humala, and candidate Keiko Fujimori —all of them involved in the Odebrecht case.

Wanted by Peruvian justice, Toledo is residing in the U.S. Therefore, the Peruvian Government is closely following up on the corresponding extradition process.

Preventive detention

In October 2018, Judge Richard Concepcion Carhuancho ordered the preventive detention of Fujimori over alleged money laundering charges.

The judge considered the daughter of former President Alberto Fujimori posed a high risk of flight, plus this measure would prevent disruptions to the probe.

The magistrate said there is serious suspicion that Fuerza Popular leader Fujimori had allegedly participated in money laundering offenses, as head of a criminal organization within the party.

Additionally, Concepcion Carhuancho confirmed there is a high degree of probability that corruption-tainted Odebrecht had paid US$1 million to Keiko Fujimori's 2011 campaign through fake donors and unjustified activities.

The magistrate pointed out the money came from the Division of Structured Operations —the Brazilian company's bribery department. Thus, the assets —intended for the campaign— were illegal and derived from unaccounted payments.

Furthermore, this affirmation was supported by former Odebrecht executives' statements given to the authorities through plea bargain deals.

(END) FHG/DTK/MVB

Published: 1/16/2019

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Peru: Judiciary Head laments removal of Judge Concepcion Carhuancho

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