Peru PM announces further cooperation for extradition of former president Toledo

Alejandro Toledo, Peru’s former president, was arrested in northern California on Tuesday. Photograph: Martín Mejía/Associated Press. Sketched by the Pan Pacific Agency.

LIMA, Jul 19, 2020, ANDINA. New Prime Minister Pedro Cateriano on Saturday (Jul 19) announced that the Justice and Human Rights Ministry will place greater emphasis on cooperation with the Prosecutor’s Office and the Judiciary for the extradition of former President Alejandro Toledo (2001-2006) and ex-Supreme Judge Cesar Hinostroza —both of them wanted by justice in Peru, ANDINA reported.

“The Government has tasks to perform, it has to comply with cooperation with the action of justice; for instance, we have the extradition of former President Alejandro Toledo and the extradition process of former Supreme Judge Cesar Hinostroza, to mention two notoriously emblematic cases of corruption; the Government will fulfill its duty,” he told RPP radio and TV station.

In this sense, the high-ranking official noted that one of the tasks to be relaunched by the Ministry will be based on placing “greater emphasis on cooperation with the efforts undertaken by both the Prosecutor’s Office and the Judiciary in those cases, as well as in others for which the commitment of President (Martin) Vizcarra has been made public and reaffirmed.”

Cateriano said that there is no political persecution, but rather compliance with a judicial order.

As is known, Toledo is wanted by the Peruvian justice to face an investigation into the alleged bribes worth US$35 million paid by Brazilian company Odebrecht over the concession for the development of the South Interoceanic Highway during his term in office (2001-2006).

On the other hand, the Spanish Council of Ministers approved the extradition of ex-Supreme Judge Hinostroza to Peru.

Former Supreme Judge Cesar Hinostroza is considered by the Peruvian Prosecutor’s Office as the head of The Port’s White Collars, a group formed by magistrates of the Judiciary and Public Ministry, whose objective was to control the agencies responsible for administering justice in order to obtain illegal benefits.

Share it


Exclusive: Beyond the Covid-19 world's coverage