Peru: prosecutor evaluates options after receiving testimony from collaborator about Castillo

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(CNN Spanish) --

The prosecutor of the Nation of Peru, Zoraida Ávalos, confirmed to CNN on Monday that she will evaluate what to do with the statement of the businesswoman Karelim López, who accepted the "effective collaboration" process.

The information provided by López is part of a new process in the Specialized Prosecutor's Office for Money Laundering and Asset Loss Crimes, which is being kept confidential.

His statements implicate President Pedro Castillo, some ministers, congressmen and relatives in alleged acts of corruption, a source from the Public Ministry confirmed to CNN on Sunday.

• Pedro Castillo accuses the Prosecutor's Office of being part of a plot to destabilize his government

Castillo said on Sunday that this information, revealed on Saturday by the newspapers El Comercio and La República, would show that the Peruvian Prosecutor's Office would be part of a "plot" to destabilize his government and questioned that these facts are debated publicly in the media when are subject to tax investigation.

Under Peruvian law, an “effective collaborator” is someone who provides information in exchange for criminal benefits.

Ávalos denied on Sunday, in two television programs, that he was part of a plot against Castillo.

The prosecutor denied Castillo and rejected his claims.

“We, and it is public knowledge, have various investigations against various sectors.

No one is going to say that the Public Ministry works with political bias,” he said on the Punto Final program.

Ávalos specified that on February 25 Karelim López received the statements, who accepted the process of "effective collaboration."

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“The coordinating prosecutor of the prosecutors specialized in money laundering sent a report to the office with fragments of statements from the aspiring effective collaborator, specifically what involved senior officials with the right to a preliminary hearing for the corresponding procedure,” said the Attorney General. in response to a form of questions submitted by CNN.

Ávalos said that "it is being evaluated" what are the steps to follow after receiving this documentation, considering that it involves the President of the Republic himself.

According to the report by La República, which CNN was able to confirm with the source from the Public Ministry related to the investigation, Karelim López would have indicated "the existence of an alleged criminal organization headed by the president, Pedro Castillo, who would have infiltrated the Palace of Government in various ministries and in the Congress of the Republic”.

The objective of that organization, according to the investigated, "would be to obtain money with public works tenders" to pay alleged debts from Castillo's electoral campaign.

In response to a question from CNN about who would benefit from the publication of this information, prosecutor Ávalos replied: "The statements of an effective collaborator by law must be submitted to a corroboration process by the prosecutor in the case and then be put into consideration of a judge.

Likewise, the law establishes the reserve of collaborations to guarantee the security of the person under investigation, to prevent the escape of the members of the network under investigation, as well as to prevent the members of the alleged corruption or criminal network from reaching an agreement. among them to give the same speech and evade justice and even so that those involved do not try to eliminate evidence.”

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Prosecutor Ávalos opened two other preliminary investigations against Castillo in January, one for alleged influence peddling in connection with public contracts and another for his alleged interference in military promotions.

The president denied, in an interview with CNN on January 24, having influenced any contract, saying that his office does not intervene in hiring, and also denied any irregular interference in military promotions.

The Prosecutor's Office recognized that the investigations will be suspended until Castillo completes his presidential term, since he is protected by the immunity granted by the Constitution.

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