Key witness in ex-Peru mayor's corruption case found dead

Arrest warrants issued for former mayor and associates

A key witness in the corruption case against former Peru mayor Jorge Corea has been found dead, leading to the issuance of arrest warrants for Corea and six others. The witness, Juan Carranza, was due to testify about alleged bribe payments made by Corea and his associates to protect their construction business from local regulations. Corea, who denied the allegations, said that the witness's death was yet another example of political manipulation. The judge in the case has accepted the justification of national security for the invocation of pretrial detention for Corea and his associates, meaning they will be held in custody until the trial concludes.

Background on the case and the impact of the witness's death

The case stems from a 2019 investigation into allegations that Corea and his associates offered bribes to evade regulations in a city-run marketplace. Corea, his son, and eight others were arrested in February of this year on charges of collusion and bribery. Corea's legal team argued that there was insufficient evidence to support the charges, claiming that the case was based primarily on the statements of Carranza and another witness who were both involved in the scheme. With Carranza's death, it is unclear whether the case will continue.

The ruling party, Popular Renewal, has expressed its hope that the investigation will continue. Critics have expressed concern that this case reflects a broader pattern of impunity in Peru, with those implicated in corruption going unpunished and continuing to operate with influence. The national prosecutor's office has indicated that it will seek to press charges against those responsible for Carranza's death.