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Peru election runoff: Leftist candidate Sánchez faces trial for alleged false funding information
🇨🇱 Chile /Elections & Politics

Peru election runoff: Leftist candidate Sánchez faces trial for alleged false funding information

From Cooperativa · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified In the courts
  • Peruvian leftist presidential candidate Roberto Sánchez faces a new oral trial for allegedly providing false information about his party's funding.
  • Sánchez claims the trial is a politically motivated attempt to hinder his growing candidacy, especially on the eve of the presidential runoff.
  • The case involves accusations of diverting electoral funds, with the prosecution seeking a prison sentence, while Sánchez maintains his innocence and claims his actions were legal.

Hours before Peru's presidential runoff election, leftist candidate Roberto Sánchez announced that a judge has ordered him to stand for an oral trial. The case concerns allegations of providing false information about his party's contributions and financing between 2018 and 2020.

I don't believe in coincidences.

— Roberto SánchezAnnouncing the judicial decision on social media.

Sánchez, who is set to face off against Keiko Fujimori on Sunday, suggested the timing of the judicial decision was no coincidence. "When a candidacy grows and a wave of hope sweeps the country, those who cannot defeat it democratically appear," he stated on social media. He criticized the speed of the proceedings, noting that after 15 hours of hearings over two days, the judge announced the trial in just 15 minutes, even rescheduling other citizens' hearings.

When a candidacy grows and a wave of hope sweeps the country, those who cannot defeat it democratically appear.

— Roberto SánchezCommenting on the timing of the trial order.

The case was initiated by the 33rd Preparatory Investigation Court of Lima, presided over by Judge Adolfo Farfán. The prosecution accuses Sánchez of committing administrative falsification and false declaration regarding funding. They are seeking a sentence of five years and four months, alleging that Sánchez and others, including his brother, diverted approximately $58,650 in electoral funds to personal accounts. Sánchez, representing former President Pedro Castillo, denies the charges and asserts his "legal and correct actions."

After 15 hours of hearing, the resolution took only 15 minutes and for that they even rescheduled hearings for other citizens who are waiting for justice.

— Roberto SánchezCriticizing the speed and perceived unfairness of the judicial process.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Cooperativa in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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