Peru: Judge orders former president Pedro Castillo to be remanded in custody

The Peruvian Supreme Court announced that former president Pedro Castillo will remain in preventive detention for 18 months while he is investigated for crimes of rebellion and conspiracy after ordering the closure of Congress and his failed self-coup on December 7. He is also accused of being the alleged perpetrator of crimes of abuse of authority and serious disturbance to public safety.

In a hearing held on Thursday, Judge Juan Carlos Checkley, in charge of the former president's case, said that pre-trial detentions are only applied in cases of serious crimes, when there is a high probability that the accused has committed the crime, and when there is a risk of flight. The investigation is described as "complex" and is expected to last eight months.

The former president will be held in the Barbadillo prison in the district of Ate, east of Lima.

The supreme judge also evaluated the request for preventive detention for former Peruvian minister Aníbal Torres, also accused of rebellion. Although the former minister will not be remanded in custody. Instead, the judge imposed bail and restricted his movements.