Former Peru President Pedro Castillo's Pretrial Detention Extended After He Slams President Dina Boluarte

Pedro Castillo, the former president of Peru who was ousted from office in 2022, has had his pretrial detention extended by the country's Justice Department for over a year. The new extension will see him jailed for another 14 months before he could even stand trial. This came a few days after he slammed his successor and former running mate, President Dina Boluarte.

Peru has had a revolving door of leaders who do not last very long, with Castillo being the latest one ousted. Boluarte herself is in danger of that too, as she faces a massive corruption scandal over her owning several luxury goods that public officials cannot seem to afford just with their salaries.

As Reuters noted, Castillo was ousted from office and replaced by his then-Vice President Dinal Boluarte after he tried to dissolve Congress in late 2022 to stop them from once again trying to impeach him. After several days of hiding, he was finally arrested and charged with rebellion, abuse of authority, and disrupting the peace.

However, Castillo was very popular among Peru's indigenous communities, particularly those living in the Andean regions. His arrest sparked massive protests, which were violently put down by government forces soon after. Several protesters have been killed by police and tensions in the country are still very high.

Pedro Castillo Slams Peru President Dina Boluarte, Claims Her Nose Is Fake

Before the Peruvian Justice Department extended his pretrial detention, former President Pedro Castillo appeared in a video hearing from prison where the government asked to extend his "preventive detention." During the hearing, he slammed his successor.

During the hearing, Castillo told the court that the accusations against him were more fake than Boluarte's eyelashes and nose. He referred to the current president as "Pinocha," a reference to Pinocchio as he has repeatedly claimed her nose is fake.

This is in reference to rumors that Boluarte underwent cosmetic surgery to help her become more popular as she had had dismal ratings after taking office. She went missing from the public eye for 12 days in 2023, with rumors circulating that she underwent various cosmetic surgeries, including rhinoplasty, according to infobae.

"I have been detained for 18 months," lamented Castillo, claiming that he was not given the right to defend himself and noted that his only family, his wife and children, are considered flight risks.

Protests Regarding Pedro Castillo's Arrest Still Happening and Another Protester Has Died

The response to Castillo's arrest has been protests, with several pro-Castillo protesters marching in Lima and it often ended with them clashing with police. One clash resulted in the death of yet another protester as the political crisis in Peru continued.

The protester who died was identified as Victor Santisteban Yacsavilca, 55. This brings the death toll of protesters who died since the impeachment and arrest of President Pedro Castillo to 58.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

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