The interrogation in the prosecutor's office lasted five and a half hours. The President of Peru Dina Boluarte was questioned on Friday April 6 by the public prosecutor as part of an investigation into alleged “illicit enrichment”.
The investigation concerns how she obtained several Rolex watches and jewelry; a scandal which weakens his government.
The prosecution had ordered the 61-year-old president to bring during this summons the valuable objects that she would not have declared in her assets when she took office in December 2022.
After her hearing, Dina Boluarte declared that the luxury watches in question had been lent to her by a friend, governor of the Andean region of Ayacucho.
“I must admit that it was a mistake to accept these watches lent by my friend Wilfredo Oscorima,” Dina Boluarte said in a statement broadcast by state television, adding that she had “already returned” the Rolex watches.
His home and office were searched on March 30, but no watches were found. Dina Boluarte assured that she had “clean hands” and only owned one watch, an older model purchased with her savings.
Attorney General Juan Villena announced Tuesday that the investigation now also focused on jewelry, including a Cartier bracelet worth $56,000, and bank deposits of some $270,000 between 2021 and 2022.
Police officers leave the home of Peruvian President Dina Boluarte during a search ordered by the public prosecutor on March 30, 2024 in Lima © Juan Carlos CISNEROS / AFP/Archives
Resignations in government
During her interrogation on Friday, Dina Boluarte denied owning valuable jewelry, such as the Cartier bracelet. “Everything that has been said is false,” she stressed. In the wake of the searches, six of the eighteen ministers in his government announced their resignations and were immediately replaced.
On Wednesday April 3, his government, the third in 16 months, obtained the confidence of Parliament, after the departure in early March of Prime Minister Alberto Otarola, targeted by an investigation for influence peddling.
Under the Constitution, in the event of prosecution, Dina Boluarte cannot be tried before July 2026, the date of the end of her mandate. Several dozen supporters, but also detractors gathered near the prosecution during his appearance. “Dina resists, Dina, you are not alone” protesters chanted, while others shouted: “Dina, prison is waiting for you”.
Police officers separate supporters and detractors of Peruvian President Dina Boluarte, April 5, 2024 in Lima © Ernesto BENAVIDES / AFP
Dina Boluarte is also the subject of an investigation for "genocide, aggravated homicide and serious injury" after the death of more than fifty people during the two months of social unrest which accompanied her accession to the head of Peru.
She became president after the impeachment in early December 2022 and the arrest of left-wing head of state Pedro Castillo, of whom she was vice-president.
Since coming to power, she has been the subject of four impeachment proceedings, the last two this week. None were admitted to debate by the unicameral Parliament dominated by the right and the far right.
With AFP
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