Andina

Peru: Judiciary orders 9-month pre-trial detention for Martha Huatay

Shining Path terrorist Martha Huatay

Shining Path terrorist Martha Huatay

09:36 | Lima, Apr. 4.

The Seventh Court for Preliminary Investigation declared well-founded the request for a 9-month pre-trial detention of Martha Isabel Huatay Ruiz, who is being investigated for the crime of aggravated terrorism, it was reported on Monday.

The judicial resolution establishes that the Judicial Police must be notified for her immediate location and capture in national and international jurisdictions. Besides, the corresponding communications must be sent through Interpol.

Huatay Ruiz is charged with the fact that, in her capacity as secretary (first member) of the 'Comité de Socorro Popular de Sendero Luminoso' (Shining Path's Popular Support Committee), she received an order from the Central Committee of said terrorist organization to carry out a car bomb attack on Tarata Street of Lima's upper-class Miraflores district on July 16, 1992.

In compliance with the terrorist order, Martha Huatay would have planned the materialization of the attack, ordering the 12th, 15th, 18th, and 21st detachments of the Department of Relatives' Central Zone Committee to carry it out.

For the terrorist attack, a vehicle containing 500 kg. of dynamite was used, which caused the death of 17 people, injured 155 people, and damaged properties.

On October 16, 2017, Huatay Ruiz was released from prison after serving a 25-year sentence for the crime of terrorism as she was part of Socorro Popular.

According to media reports, Huatay —one of Shining Path's ex-ringleaders— left for Argentina in June 2022 and has not returned to Peru since then.

(END) RMCH/JCR/MVB

Published: 4/4/2023