Andina

Peru Justice Minister steps down

15:41 | Lima, Jul. 13.

Peru's Justice and Human Rights Minister Salvador Heresi on Friday submitted his irrevocable resignation to President Martin Vizcarra.

The Head of State requested Heresi his resignation letter after an audio recording —containing a conversation between the lawyer and Supreme Judge Cesar Hinostroza— was released.


"For the sake of the justice system reform, I have asked Minister Heresi to step down from the post. The times Peru is going through demand firm actions," the top official posted on Twitter.

As is known, 52-year-old Heresi had been sworn in on April 2.

Earlier on Friday, the Executive Branch established the Justice System Reform Commission.

Cesar Hinostroza

Supreme Judge Cesar Hinostroza is implicated in a series of audio recordings released by Panorama TV show and investigative journalism site IDL—Reporteros.

In the conversations, the judge offers and accepts favors to and from National Council of the Magistracy (CNM) members and other officials.

According to statements contained in one audio recording, Hinostroza had allegedly negotiated —with an unknown caller— the application of a mild punishment against a child rapist.

In this sense, President Martin Vizcarra underlined investigations must be conducted rapidly to severely punish the persons responsible for these disgraceful and despicable acts.

Likewise, the CNM opened an investigation on Hinostroza. Also, an impeachment motion against him was submitted to Congress.

Furthermore, Judicial Branch Head Duberli Rodriguez announced Hinostroza has been removed from the presidency of the Supreme Court's Second Transitory Criminal Chamber.

The Executive Branch has established the Justice System Reform Commission, attached to the Presidency of the Republic, according to a Supreme Resolution published Friday in El Peruano official gazette.

The consultative commission is intended to propose urgent and concrete measures to reform the justice system thus contributing to effective, timely, transparent, efficient, and incorruptible justice.

(END) JCR/JCC/JAA/MVB

Published: 7/13/2018