Ex-Police Chief in Puno Sentenced to Six Years for Extorting Subordinates

José Gutiérrez, the former head of the Halcones group within the National Police of Peru (PNP) in Juliaca, Puno, has been convicted in a first-instance ruling and sentenced to six years of effective prison time. A judicial body found that Gutiérrez exploited his position to extort money from officers under his command.

Prosecutors established that in November 2019, Gutiérrez solicited payments of S/50 and S/200 from his subordinates. These payments were demanded in exchange for not reporting alleged infractions to the Inspectorate General. The court found him guilty of passive bribery in the exercise of police functions.

During the trial, prosecutors presented testimonies from uniformed officers detailing the illicit charges made by Gutiérrez. These accounts were corroborated by other evidence, solidifying his criminal responsibility. The prosecution also noted that disciplinary sanctions imposed by Gutiérrez were later annulled by the Police Inspectorate for lacking substantiation, further indicating his actions were aimed at personal financial gain.

While the sentence is for effective prison time, its execution is temporarily suspended until a second-instance ruling confirms the conviction. During this period, Gutiérrez is mandated to comply with strict rules of conduct. He has also been ordered to pay S/10,000 in civil damages to the state and faces six months of disqualification from public office.