to the detriment of the Peruvian State in the Fondo Mivivienda (My Housing Fund) case.
Judge Raul Justiniano, who was in charge of the hearing, indicated that there are serious elements which link those investigated to criminal acts, in addition to flight risk and obstruction of the investigation.
Justiniano specified that, if a final prison sentence is imposed, it might exceed 4 years.
Why are they held under pre-trial detention?
The
Public Ministry/Prosecutor's Office claimed that
businesswoman Sada Goray —former general manager of real estate company Marka Group— had paid more than S/5 million (over US$1.35 million) to Salatiel Marrufo —former chief of advisers at the Ministry of Housing, Construction, and Sanitation— and to then-Minister Geiner Alvarado.
The
Prosecutor's Office indicated that the businesswoman had commissioned Pilar Tijero —Mauricio Fernandini's cousin— to approach the Executive Branch during ex-President Pedro Castillo's term in office.
According to the prosecutorial thesis, journalist Mauricio Fernandini initiated the criminal act by making contact with former Minister Alvarado and Marrufo.
According to the Prosecutor’s Office, Fernandini obtained money in exchange for those arrangements.
"This denotes seriousness so as to lead to issuing pre-trial detention against him," the judge stated.
Besides, Fernandini met with Marrufo, after which the illegal distribution of projects in favor of Marka Group continued.
The judge also pointed out that the journalist had used his apartment as venue for meetings to deliver the money sent by Goray to the former advisory chief.
INPE
Both the legal defense of those investigated and the Public Ministry announced their intention to appeal the resolution, which was issued following a series of hearings that began on July 18 and ended on July 31.