Peru’s Supreme Court has delivered a landmark verdict against former President Pedro Castillo, sentencing him to 11.5 years imprisonment for orchestrating a conspiracy to commit rebellion in December 2022. The court’s special panel found Castillo guilty of attempting to dissolve Congress illegally as legislators moved forward with impeachment proceedings against him.
The 56-year-old leader, who has remained in custody since his dramatic arrest in December 2022, received an additional two-year ban from holding public office. The ruling extends to two of Castillo’s former ministers, including ex-Prime Minister Betssy Chávez, who received identical prison terms for their involvement in the same conspiracy.
Chávez’s case has triggered international diplomatic tensions, with Mexico granting her asylum and providing sanctuary within its embassy compound in Lima. The Peruvian government responded by severing diplomatic relations with Mexico, creating a significant regional diplomatic rift.
The verdict marks the second major conviction of a former Peruvian president within a single week. On Wednesday, a separate court sentenced ex-leader Martín Vizcarra to 14 years imprisonment after convicting him of accepting bribes during his tenure as governor of a southern state.
Castillo’s dramatic fall from power represents a stunning reversal for the political outsider who made history in 2021 by becoming Peru’s first president from an impoverished farming background. His administration, marked by political inexperience and escalating tensions with Congress, culminated in his attempted dissolution of the legislative body.
Vice President Dina Boluarte succeeded Castillo but faced her own political challenges, ultimately being removed from office in October following widespread public dissatisfaction with her government’s performance and mounting crime rates. Current President José Jerí, previously the Congress leader, now leads the nation amid ongoing political turbulence.