Peru's Constitutional Court annuls prison order against political leader who propelled Castillo to presidency

Peru's Constitutional Court has overturned a pre-trial detention order against Vladimir Cerrón, the leader of the Marxist Perú Libre party, which backed former President Pedro Castillo's 2021 election victory. Cerrón has been a fugitive for over three years, evading authorities while continuing his political activities.

The court's decision, published Tuesday, found Cerrón's appeal valid and instructed the judicial system to implement less restrictive measures. These measures aim to ensure his appearance in court for ongoing corruption investigations stemming from his tenure as regional governor of Junín between 2011 and 2014. He faces charges related to criminal organization and money laundering in the "Los Dinámicos del Centro" case, which alleges a network that issued driver's licenses for bribes.

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the TC ordered his freedom "to be persecuted by judicial arbitrariness, not because of collusion."

This ruling follows a 2025 decision by the Supreme Court of Justice that annulled a previous three-year and six-month sentence against Cerrón for collusion in the "Aeródromo Wanka" case, which investigated irregularities in the construction contract for an airport in Concepción province.

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Abuse that played a nefarious role in these general elections against the socialist left.

During Castillo's presidency and the subsequent term of Dina Boluarte, Cerrón remained in hiding. An investigation even explored his alleged escape from Lima in a presidential vehicle. Despite being on the national police's most-wanted list, his whereabouts remained unknown. He attempted to run for president in recent elections from hiding.

Reacting to the court's decision, Cerrón stated that the court ordered his release because he was "persecuted by judicial arbitrariness, not because of collusion." He described the situation as an "abuse that played a nefarious role in these general elections against the socialist left." Cerrón added, "Today, three years of disciplined resistance in clandestinity culminate, a defeat of injustice and a reaffirmation of our convictions. Until Beyond Victory!"

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Today, three years of disciplined resistance in clandestinity culminate, a defeat of injustice and a reaffirmation of our convictions. Until Beyond Victory!