A key witness in a high-stakes corruption case against former Lima mayor Susana Villarán was tragically found dead at his home, just before the trial is set to begin. José Miguel Castro, a municipality official during Villarán's mayoral term from 2011-2014, was under house arrest and reportedly cooperating with prosecutors on this controversial case. He was a co-defendant alongside Villarán, who faces serious allegations of accepting $10 million in bribes from major Brazilian construction firms.
Despite admitting to receiving campaign funds from these companies in 2019, Villarán contends that they were not bribes. Castro's unexpected death leaves legal authorities in a bind, as he was pivotal to the prosecution's case. “We were expecting his valuable contribution,” stated prosecutor José Domingo Pérez, expressing concern over the loss of key testimony.
The trial is slated to begin on September 23 and has far-reaching implications, with numerous politicians in Peru entangled in the ongoing Odebrecht scandal. Many former presidents are also under investigation, highlighting a pervasive culture of corruption that stretches across the political landscape.
Despite admitting to receiving campaign funds from these companies in 2019, Villarán contends that they were not bribes. Castro's unexpected death leaves legal authorities in a bind, as he was pivotal to the prosecution's case. “We were expecting his valuable contribution,” stated prosecutor José Domingo Pérez, expressing concern over the loss of key testimony.
The trial is slated to begin on September 23 and has far-reaching implications, with numerous politicians in Peru entangled in the ongoing Odebrecht scandal. Many former presidents are also under investigation, highlighting a pervasive culture of corruption that stretches across the political landscape.
