Peru President Dina Boluarte’s brother and lawyer arrested over alleged influence peddling
- Nicanor Boluarte is accused of working to appoint government officials in exchange for money and an agreement to gather signatures to register a political party
- Lawyer Mateo Castaneda allegedly interfered with an investigation against the president’s sibling by offering benefits to members of a now-disbanded police unit
Peruvian authorities arrested both President Dina Boluarte’s brother and lawyer on Friday over influence-peddling accusations, a day after the South American country’s government disbanded a police unit that assisted prosecutors in investigating the president’s inner circle.
A judge signed off on the arrests, according to a copy of the warrant obtained by Associated Press. The document accuses the president’s sibling of working to appoint government officials in exchange for money and an agreement to gather signatures to register a political party.
The developments mark the latest step in mounting pressure on Boluarte, who became president in December 2022, when she replaced then-president Pedro Castillo. He was dismissed by parliament and is now imprisoned while being investigated for alleged corruption and rebellion.
The warrant also granted the prosecutors’ request to keep both men incommunicado for 10 days, a legal manoeuvre that authorities typically reserve for cases they deem highly serious.
Local television stations showed images of the arrests of Nicanor Boluarte and Mateo Castaneda. The Attorney General’s Office later confirmed their arrests on social media.
The president’s older brother faces charges of conspiracy and influence peddling for allegedly appointing prefects – local officials who track social conflicts in remote areas – in exchange for money and the gathering of signatures to register the Citizens for Peru party.