Prosecutor of Peru summons President Castillo to testify, nullifying provision that suspended preliminary investigation

President of Peru does not receive the Audit and Comptroller Commission 1:42 (CNN Spanish) — The Public Ministry of Peru reported this Wednesday that the Nation’s prosecutor, Patricia Benavides, annulled the provision that suspended the preliminary investigation into President of the country, Pedro Castillo, for the alleged crime against the public administration-influence peddling as the perpetrator. In its Twitter account, the institution added that it is preparing to initiate a preliminary investigation against the president and that he is summoned to testify on August 4 in the case that investigates an alleged interference in military promotions. When the Prosecutor’s Office had announced the opening of the investigation on January 4, it clarified that the beginning of the investigative acts would be suspended until the president finished his mandate since he enjoys “absolute immunity.” CNN has contacted the Government Palace for comment on this announcement. Responding to the media, the president’s lawyer, Benji Espinoza, said that he will file an appeal for annulment. In December 2021, Castillo received representatives from the Prosecutor’s Office and responded to the case as a witness. At that time he published on his Twitter account: “We show our faces, we do not flee the country, much less take refuge in an embassy; we have a clean conscience, we act in accordance with the law and the commitments assumed with the people”. This Wednesday’s announcement by the Prosecutor’s Office is along the same lines as its former interim head Pablo Sánchez, who opened an investigation against Castillo on May 29 and became the first acting president of Peru to be investigated. At that time, the prosecution body supported the decision that, although the President of the Republic enjoys greater protection compared to any other State official, “notwithstanding in a case like the present one, in which there are serious indications that the President of the Republic would be involved in serious crimes of corruption and would be the leader of a criminal organization, said constitutional prerogative must be made compatible with the constitutional obligation of the State to prosecute the crime”. The president has denied being involved in acts of corruption and stated that he will collaborate with the Prosecutor’s Office. Jimena de la Quintana contributed to this report.