Justice doubles prison sentence for ousted former Peruvian president Pedro Castillo | the world

Peruvian President Pedro Castillo has survived a second impeachment attempt in his eight months in office – Photo: AFP / via BBC

A Peruvian judge this Thursday (9) extended from 18 to 36 months the detention of ousted former president Pedro Castillo, held since December on rebellion charges. This information was confirmed by the Department of Justice.

The 53-year-old former president, already serving an 18-month sentence, is expected to remain behind bars until December 2025 after being charged with crimes being investigated by the public ministry.

“The Supreme Court has ordered a 36-month pretrial detention of Pedro Castillo, the alleged leader of the criminal organization, for crimes committed in PetroPeru and the Ministries of Transportation, Housing, Construction and Sanitation,” the Peruvian judge wrote on Twitter. .

Judge Juan Carlos Cegli handed down the sentence against Castillo during a virtual hearing broadcast by the Peruvian judiciary’s television channel.

“We’re going to do what the law allows, and we’re going to appeal,” said Castillo, who participated in the jail hearing.

A 36-month prison sentence also fell on former Transport Minister Juan Silva, who is a fugitive from justice, while former Housing Minister Keynor Alvarado will answer to the process freely.