Lima Peru — Peruvian authorities arrested President Dina Boluarte’s brother and his lawyer on Friday on accusations of influence peddling, a day after the South American country’s government disbanded a police unit helping prosecutors investigate the president’s inner circle.
A judge approved the arrests, according to a copy of the order obtained by The Associated Press. The document accuses the president’s brother of working to appoint government officials in exchange for money and an agreement to collect signatures to register a political party.
The developments mark the latest step in increasing pressure on Boluarte, who assumed the presidency in December 2022 when he replaced then-president Pedro Castillo. He was impeached by Parliament and is now imprisoned while being investigated for alleged corruption and rebellion.
The order also granted prosecutors’ request to hold both men incommunicado for 10 days, a legal maneuver that authorities usually reserve for cases they consider very serious.
Boluarte’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the AP.
Local television stations showed images of the arrests of Nicanor Boluarte and Mateo Castañeda. The Attorney General’s Office later confirmed their arrests on social media.
The president’s brother faces charges of conspiracy and influence peddling for allegedly appointing prefects (local officials who track social conflicts in remote areas) in exchange for money and collecting signatures to register the Citizens for Peru party.
“I am innocent,” Nicanor Boluarte told reporters as he left his house handcuffed and wearing sunglasses, a mask and a baseball cap. He is the penultimate of 12 brothers and the president is the youngest of all.
Prosecutors accuse Castañeda of interfering with the investigation into Nicanor Boluarte by offering certain benefits to members of the now-disbanded police unit, which focused on tax investigations.
Before his arrest at his home, Castañeda had advised President Boluarte in an investigation into his use of luxury watches and fine jewelry that he did not list on a mandatory asset declaration form.
It was not immediately clear if either man had attorneys who could comment on their behalf.
Prosecutors, according to the order, allege that the purpose of the conspiracy was to “obtain economic resources and recruit members to finance” and create the “Ciudadanos del Perú” political party, which would then “be used as a platform to maintain power in the apparatus.” state and, with it, obtain illicit profits.”
After the arrests, Attorney General Juan Villena said on social networks that he is evaluating the government’s decision to dismantle the police unit. That decision was authorized by the Minister of the Interior, Walter Ortiz.
Villena added that the dissolved police unit must be regrouped “immediately.”
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