International
Justice rejects that the investigation of luxury watches has violated the rights of Boluarte
The Peruvian Justice declared this Sunday unfounded the protection of rights presented by the defense of Dina Boluarte, who argued that the rights of the president were violated during the investigation of the Prosecutor’s Office for the alleged commission of illicit enrichment in the case of the luxury watches that she wore without having declared.
“Judicial power declares unfounded protection of rights presented by the defense of President Dina Boluarte, in the investigation followed against her for the alleged crime of illicit enrichment and another in the grievance of the State,” the institution reported on social network X.
He added that this decision was issued by the Supreme Court of Preparatory Investigation, in charge of Judge Juan Carlos Checkley Soria, “who considered that the defense arguments raised in this appeal have no factual or legal basis.”
Last Tuesday, in the hearing in which this protection of rights was analyzed, the lawyer of Boluarte, Eduardo Barriga, maintained that the Prosecutor’s Office violates the rights to the defense and due process of the ruler during the investigation opened by the case of the luxury watches that Boluarte wore in public without having declared.
He questioned the alleged violation of the right to defense and equality of parties, because the Prosecutor’s Office would not have allowed him to intervene in open source information extraction proceedings (public media information).
“(Boluarte) Requests before this Supreme Court Protection of Rights for being the subject of tax proceedings without the presence of technical defense and for violation of the constitutional right of defense and procedural equality by the Public Ministry,” reads the document of the complaint published on May 16 by the Judiciary in X.
Boluarte requested that, for that reason, the actions carried out by the Prosecutor’s Office during the investigation be declared null and void and that the information obtained in proceedings of the Public Prosecutor’s Office be excluded from it.
“As a corrective measure, it requests that the actions carried out by prosecutors Karina Llatance Mendoza and Walter Arlando Giles Paucar be declared null and void with respect to the tax proceedings of extraction and open source transcription act described in their application,” the complaint adds in this regard.
He also requested that the information generated as a result of the tax proceedings of extraction and open source transcription described in his application be excluded from the investigation.
A month ago, on April 24, the Prosecutor’s Office extended the preliminary investigation to Boluarte for the case known as ‘Rolexgate’ by including the possible commission of a crime of improper passive bribery, which is in addition to that of illicit enrichment and failure to record statements in documents.
He also announced that he expanded the preliminary investigations to include the regional governor of Ayacucho, Wilfredo Oscorima, who assured that he lent the luxury watches to the president, for the alleged commission of generic active bribery crimes.
International
Petro expresses concern over fatal shooting during mass protests in Lima
Colombian President Gustavo Petro voiced his “concern” on Thursday over recent events in Peru, following the death of a protester reportedly shot during a massive demonstration in Lima against the government and Congress.
“I must express my concern over the events in Peru. A young artist has been killed in citizens’ protests,” Petro wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
The Colombian leader also noted that in Peru, “a popularly elected president remains imprisoned without conviction,” referring to Pedro Castillo, who led the country from July 2021 to December 2022 until he was removed by Congress following a failed attempted coup.
“This is a blatant violation of the American Convention on Human Rights,” Petro stated, adding, “I hope Peru seeks social and political dialogue to legitimize its public institutions.”
On Wednesday, Peru experienced widespread protests in several cities, with the largest demonstration in Lima in recent years, driven by citizens’ concerns over corruption and public insecurity.
During the capital’s mobilization, the Ombudsman’s Office confirmed the death of Eduardo Ruiz, 32, and reported clashes that left over 100 injured, including 78 police officers and 24 protesters, as well as ten arrests.
The Attorney General’s Office, investigating Ruiz’s death “in the context of serious human rights violations,” confirmed that the protester was shot.
International
Peru’s interim president José Jerí refuses to resign after protester’s death in Lima
Peru’s interim president, José Jerí, stated Thursday that he has no intention of resigning from the post he assumed last Friday, following the removal of former president Dina Boluarte, despite growing unrest over the death of a protester during massive demonstrations in Lima on Wednesday.
“I will not resign,” Jerí declared outside the Government Palace in Lima, where he returned on foot after making a surprise visit to Congress headquarters alongside Prime Minister Ernesto Álvarez.
Earlier, after leaving the Legislative Palace, the president acknowledged that the country is going through “difficult times” and condemned what he described as “a small group attempting to impose an agenda different from the citizens’ expression of discontent.”
Jerí expressed condolences for the death of Eduardo Ruiz, a 32-year-old man who died during Wednesday’s protest against the government and Congress, amid growing anger over corruption and insecurity.
“We stand in solidarity with his family,” he said, without offering further details about the incident, which has sparked outrage among Peruvians.
The president also described the demonstrations as “a legitimate civic expression” that later turned violent due to “certain groups seeking to provoke chaos by exploiting a peaceful citizen movement.”
“In a state governed by the rule of law, the rights of both demonstrators and security forces must be protected,” Jerí emphasized, adding that “as a result of that situation, this unfortunate death occurred outside the main area where the protest was taking place.”
International
Mexican government prioritizes 191 communities after deadly floods
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed on Wednesday that the death toll from recent rains and floods across several central states has risen to 66, while the federal government has activated air bridges and prioritized assistance in 191 isolated communities.
“Unfortunately, 66 people have died, and 75 remain missing,” the president said during her morning press conference. She added that the official death toll will be updated later in a new report.
As of Tuesday, authorities had reported 64 fatalities. Sheinbaum also announced the creation of a public information center to centralize official data on the deceased, missing persons, damaged homes, and cut-off communities.
According to the president, the number of missing persons has decreased thanks to coordination with state authorities.
“Through calls to phone line 079, 103 people who had been reported missing have now been located,” she explained.
Priority Municipalities
The president noted that the federal government has classified 191 communities as ‘priority’, a designation based mainly on the percentage of homes affected.
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