Judge orders oral trial for presidential candidate Roberto Sánchez in Peru

Peruvian leftist presidential candidate Roberto Sánchez announced that a judge has ordered him to stand trial for allegedly submitting false information regarding his party's contributions and financing between 2018 and 2020. Sánchez, who is competing in the second round of presidential elections against Keiko Fujimori, voiced suspicion about the timing of the judicial decision. "I don't believe in coincidences," Sánchez stated on social media, adding, "When a candidacy grows and a wave of hope sweeps the country, there are those who want to put labels and stop what they cannot defeat democratically." He noted that after a lengthy 15-hour hearing spread over two days, the judge announced the case would proceed to an oral trial, though the specific grounds for the decision were not yet known to him or his legal team. Sánchez also criticized the speed with which the resolution was issued, suggesting it was prioritized over other citizens' cases. The case was reportedly initiated by the 33rd Preparatory Investigation Court of Lima, presided over by Judge Adolfo Farfán. The court declared the intermediate stage of the process concluded, although the decision is not final and has been appealed by Sánchez's defense. A higher tribunal will make the final determination. Prosecutors accuse Sánchez and others, including his brother William, of allegedly diverting approximately 280,000 soles (about $58,650) in electoral financing funds from the Juntos por el Perú party to personal accounts. Sánchez, representing former President Pedro Castillo, denies the charges and maintains his actions were legal and correct, having accounted for them to electoral bodies.

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I don't believe in coincidences. When a candidacy grows and a wave of hope sweeps the country, there are those who want to put labels and stop what they cannot defeat democratically.