Peruvian Investigation into Former President Pedro Castillo
The Peruvian prosecutor’s office has requested a preventive detention period of 18 months for former President Pedro Castillo. A person close to the investigation informed this update to the press agency, noting that Castillo is alleged to be involved in rebellion as a consequence of the abortive coup that led to his removal from office.
The request was filed by Supreme Prosecutor Uriel Teran, and it was stated that the Second Temporary Prosecutor’s Office, which specializes in crimes by public officials, is handling the case.
Also named in the request and subsequent documentation is Aníbal Torres, who previously served as prime minister and who acted as Castillo’s legal adviser at the time. The filing follows a formal decision authorizing the Public Ministry to initiate a preliminary investigation into Castillo’s actions.
The move to seek precautionary detention implies the possibility of extending preliminary detention while investigations proceed. Although the final decision rests with the judiciary, it was expected to be issued by midday on the reported day.
According to updates from a major news outlet, the judiciary scheduled a hearing to assess the financial necessity of detention. The hearing was set for 09:30 local time, with the presiding judge overseeing the proceedings.
The Preliminary Investigation was officially approved by a supreme court judge the previous evening, enabling the formalization of the preliminary investigation against Castillo and former Prime Minister Torres for alleged acts of rioting and conspiracy.
In the formal decision, Castillo was indicated as a potential collaborator in riot and conspiracy crimes, while also facing accusations related to abuse of power and disturbances to public order. Torres, in his role as a senior adviser to the presidency at the relevant time, faced similar allegations regarding collaboration in riot and conspiracy crimes.
Unlike Castillo, Torres was released and reportedly went into hiding after learning of the accusations brought forth by the Attorney General’s office. The investigation has been described as complex and is expected to span several months under the oversight of the Public Ministry.
During the proceedings, Castillo’s defense contended that the former president could still face charges related to attempted riot or conspiracy, potentially resulting in a substantial prison term. Castillo testified remotely from detention, asserting that he did not commit conspiracy or riot crimes and maintaining that his detention was unjust and arbitrary.
Call to Support Castillo
Castillo publicly urged his supporters to assemble at a police detention facility in Lima as his term neared its end. He asked them to gather at the end of his term and to advocate for his freedom, describing the detention as unjust and insisting on solidarity with his political movement.
In a handwritten message from a police headquarters where he has been held since early December, Castillo claimed that he would be released the following day and invited supporters to show solidarity in front of the government complex. Aníbal Torres echoed this sentiment, urging supporters to accompany Castillo upon his release from police custody during the scheduled day.
Public statements from supporters and allied figures underscored the sense of mobilization around Castillo’s detention and the push to secure his release. The widespread sentiment among certain groups emphasized loyalty to Castillo and his political program, while critics stressed the seriousness of the charges facing the former president and his aides.
Castillo had dissolved Congress and proclaimed a state of emergency, actions that lacked support across the legislative body and triggered a no-confidence motion leading to his arrest by the police. As the pre-trial detention period neared its end, prosecutors pressed for an 18-month extension as part of the ongoing investigation into rebellion and associated alleged offenses. The judiciary, meanwhile, had a 48-hour window to set a hearing to finalize arrangements related to the prosecution’s request as the investigation continued.
Throughout the process, the case has drawn intense public attention in Peru and beyond, reflecting ongoing debates about constitutional order, accountability for high-level officials, and the consequences of attempted unilateral political moves. The proceedings have been marked by formal filings, court rulings, and public statements from both supporters and critics, all contributing to a highly watched legal confrontation that could shape the country’s political trajectory in the months ahead.
The unfolding narrative remains centered on whether Castillo and his former aides will face substantial jail terms and how Peru’s judicial system will address the allegations of rebellion, conspiracy, and related abuses of power in connection with the attempted coup and its aftermath.