Peruvian president questioned for alleged abuse of power in corruption case

Peruvian President Dina Boluarte was questioned by prosecutors on Tuesday over the closure of a police unit that searched her home in connection with a corruption case.

The interview, which lasted about three hours, was the latest in a growing list of investigations into Boluarte, who is already accused of accepting bribes in the form of Rolex watches.

In the latest case, she is being investigated for alleged abuse of authority for allegedly targeting the police unit that searched her home for evidence in the Rolex case.

Boluarte's lawyer, Juan Carlos Portugal, said his client had “answered absolutely everything, although many of the public prosecutor's questions were very delicate and leading.”

On Monday, Attorney General Juan Carlos Villena filed a complaint against the president “as an alleged author of passive corruption.”

The allegation stems from a trove of undeclared luxury watches and jewelry found in his possession in March.

Boluarte told prosecutors last month that the Rolexes were loaned to him by a friend.

The attorney general's accusation, presented to Congress, does not constitute an indictment because the president enjoys immunity while in office.

Peru suffers from chronic political instability and has had six presidents in the past eight years.

Boluarte took office in December 2022, replacing left-wing President Pedro Castillo, who was impeached and imprisoned for unsuccessfully trying to dissolve Congress.

She had been his vice-president.

In 2023, prosecutors opened an investigation in which she is accused of “genocide, homicide and serious injury”, for the deaths of more than 50 demonstrators during the suppression of demonstrations demanding her resignation and the calling of new elections.

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