Peruvian president’s brother arrested amid corruption inquiry
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The embattled Peruvian president’s brother and lawyer have been arrested, marking the latest twist in a corruption inquiry that has rocked the country’s highest echelons.
Dina Boluarte, the president, has been embroiled in the “Rolexgate” scandal since March, after prosecutors began an investigation into how she was wearing jewellery worth at least £400,000 despite earning a monthly presidential salary of about £3,320.
Ms Boluarte, 61, has denied any wrongdoing and said that she had been loaned the watches.
Now Nicanor Boluarte, Ms Boluarte’s brother, has been placed under preliminary detention, accused of leading a criminal organisation and influence peddling, in an investigation called “the brothers in the shadow”. His Lima house was searched on Friday, along with more than 20 others.
“I am innocent... I deny absolutely everything,” he said as he was transferred by the police to a judicial unit.
Mateo Castañeda, Ms Boluarte’s lawyer, was also placed under preliminary detention on Friday and had his home raided. Six others were also detained.
Authorities also said they are investigating the president for disbanding a special police force that had been investigating her brother.
A spokesman for the president told a press conference on Friday evening that the police unit had been dissolved for failure to comply with administrative norms and that the government respected the laws and judicial autonomy.
Peruvian politics has been beset with political turmoil in recent years – Ms Boularte is the sixth president since 2018.
Since the millennium, almost all its presidents have ended up in jail, on the run, dead, or embroiled in corruption allegations. Ms Boularte’s predecessor, Pedro Castillo, was dismissed in December 2022 and is imprisoned while being investigated for alleged corruption and rebellion.
Ms Boularte suffers the lowest popularity rankings of all Latin American leaders, with 9 per cent citizen support. She has also been accused of presiding over the killings of 49 people by security forces during protests in 2023.
