Peru Judiciary Upholds Dismissal of Money Laundering Case Against Keiko Fujimori

Peru's Judiciary has definitively archived a money laundering and criminal organization case against presidential candidate Keiko Fujimori. The Second Criminal Appeals Chamber confirmed a prior ruling that dismissed proceedings related to the financing of her 2011 and 2016 presidential campaigns.

This decision aligns with a prior sentence from the Constitutional Court, which had ordered the case's dismissal. The appeals chamber found the Public Ministry's and the State's Attorney's appeals to be unfounded. Additionally, it granted an appeal from Fujimori's ex-husband, Mark Vito Villanella, to also archive the investigation against him and lift any measures imposed.

Fujimori's lawyer, Guilliana Loza, stated on social media that "history and law are putting things in their place today." She added, "A process that should never have begun has finally concluded." The initial dismissal by the National Preparatory Investigation Court in January had cited the Constitutional Court's ruling, suggesting only an imputation for false declarations should remain.

The Public Ministry and the State's Attorney had sought to nullify the first-instance resolution in May, citing alleged flaws in its reasoning and arguing it misinterpreted the Constitutional Court's decision. The final confirmation of the archive came as Peru awaits the official promulgation of the June 7 presidential election results, where Fujimori narrowly trails Roberto Sánchez.