Castillo’s sister-in-law released from jail after two months
Lima, Oct 25 (EFE).- Yenifer Paredes, Peruvian President Pedro Castillo’s sister-in-law, on Tuesday was released from jail after spending almost two months in custody in a case of alleged corruption that the day before was thrown out by the National Superior Court of Specialized Criminal Justice.
Paredes, whom the president raised as a daughter, left the Women’s Annex in Lima’s Chorrillos district wearing a facemask after being held there since Aug. 31. She got into a vehicle driven by her attorney and left the site amid a large media presence.
The court on Monday ruled that the order imposed on Paredes to spend 30 months in preventive custody must be reversed as per the appeal she filed, that initial order having been handed down by a judge at the request of the Attorney General’s Office.
The sister of first lady Lilia Paredes made no statement upon her release and, protected by police officers guarding the court entrance, she entered the waiting vehicle with another person.
The court decided to cancel the preventive detention ruling, which had been originally imposed because Paredes was deemed to pose a flight risk and had “a low quality of domestic, family and work roots.”
Even so, Paredes will continue to face legal proceedings opened against her and must abide by various restrictions including remaining at her residence and not moving from there without prior authorization from the appropriate judicial authority.
In addition, the court ruling said that Paredes must appear before judicial or government authorities in a timely way when required and, if she does not do that, she will be ordered back into custody.
Paredes is facing charges of being part of a criminal organization, aggravated collusion and money-laundering, and Public Ministry prosecutors have requested that she be sentenced to 23 years behind bars.
Castillo’s sister-in-law has been designated by prosecutors as a “front person” for the alleged corruption network supposedly entrenched within the Castillo government to coordinate with businessman Hugo Espino the awarding of public works contracts in Cajamarca, the home region of the president’s family.
EFE
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