Politics Peru's ex-President Castillo sentenced to over eleven years in prison
Former Peruvian head of state Pedro Castillo has been sentenced to eleven years, five months and 15 days in prison for an attempted coup d'état. A court in the capital Lima deemed it proven that the ex-president (2021-2022) was guilty of conspiracy to commit rebellion. The public prosecutor's office had demanded 34 years in prison.
27.11.2025, 20:18
SDA
Castillo had dissolved Congress at the end of 2022 to forestall an imminent vote of no confidence. He wanted to set up an emergency government and rule by decree in future. Parliament then removed him from office for "moral unfitness". He was arrested on charges of an attempted coup d'état and has been in custody ever since.
Left-wing president represented the interests of the rural population
The former village school teacher primarily represented rural Peru. Farmers and indigenous people had long felt ignored by the elites in Lima and hardly benefited from the South American country's economic growth. However, the politically largely inexperienced Castillo came under pressure shortly after taking office: his cabinet ministers repeatedly resigned. He also repeatedly clashed with Congress.
Several ex-presidents behind bars
In Peru, almost all heads of state over the past 25 years have had problems with the judiciary. Only on Wednesday, Martín Vizcarra (2018-2020) was sentenced to 14 years in prison for corruption. In April, a court sentenced ex-President Ollanta Humala (2011-2016) to 15 years in prison for money laundering.
Last year, Alejandro Toledo (2001-2006) was sentenced to 20 years and six months in prison for corruption. Pedro Pablo Kuczynski (2016-2018) is under investigation for corruption. Former President Alan García (1985-1990 and 2006-2011) killed himself in 2019 when the police tried to arrest him on corruption charges.
