What is the relationship of this case to the one in Colombia?

After the Peruvian press released the recordings in which the judicial system is very badly stopped against the alleged corruption that exists in that branch of public power, President Martín Vizcarra announced a reform of the Peruvian judicial system. However, the announcement was made by the then Minister of Justice, Salvador Heresi, who because he was splashed by the scandal should resign to office. The National Council of Magistrates (CNM) has been the body that has been most linked to the scandal and is responsible for appointing judges and prosecutors at the national level. According to an IPSO poll, 85% of Peruvians believe that all of their members should be dismissed, so far only Guido Águila has resigned his position.

Leer en español: Todo lo que debe saber del cartel descubierto en la justicia peruana

When the then Justice Minister Heresi announced the judicial reform, I even assure in a press conference that "if in the short term there is no political will (of Congress), we will have to go to other democratic mechanisms, such as the referendum," he said, calling to the need for reform in the country. For the government it is essential to think about the referendum, since it is the opposition headed by Keiko Fujimori, who controls the congress and can delay the proposal, and where that party, Fuerza Popular, has also been involved in the scandal: Joaquín Ramírez , former secretary general, in one of the recordings is mentioned for supposedly laundering money for Keiko's campaigns, according to the newspaper El Comercio.

The audios

In the audios broadcast, one hears that the magistrates negotiate sentences or ask for favors in exchange for these. For example, the president of the Superior Court of Appeals of Callao, Walter Ríos, in one of the audios asks for a high sum of money; Judge Cesar Hinoztroza, also of the Superior Court, is heard in one of the audios negotiating a sentence. It is believed that Hinostroza met with Keiko Fujimori, when they began to investigate the financing of their campaigns.

For President Vizcarra "no political force, no member of the judicial administration or any Peruvian of good will can oppose a reform of the State and Justice," he said in a televised message. The Cardinal of Lima, Monsignor Pedro Barreto, also urged the population to support the reform, "the proposal of the president of judicial reform has to be supported by all and we hope that on July 28 can explain clearly, what will be the exit to live in a real participatory and vigilant democracy that supports the initiatives of honest people that certainly exist in Peru", he said. On July 28, the president will explain to the Peruvians what the reform consists of, since the members of the commission were appointed.

The commission in charge has already been criticized

Through a presidential resolution, and published in the newspaper El Peruano, President Vizcarra announced the seven members of the Commission in charge of reforming the Justice System, these are:

• Allan Wagner Tizón (president of the Commission), former chancellor and current president of the Asociación Civil Transparencia.
• Delia Revoredo Marsano, former chancellor and current president of the Asociación Civil Transparencia.
• Hugo Sivina Hurtado, OSCE president and vice minister of employment promotion.
• Samuel Abad Yupanqui, Constitutionalist and Deputy in Constitutional Affairs and First Deputy of the Ombudsman's Office.
• Eduardo Vega Luna, former head of the Ombudsman's Office.
• Ana Teresa Revilla Vergara, president of the OSCE and vice minister of employment promotion.
• Walter Albán Peralta, former Minister of the Interior and former director of Proética.

However, the Aprista Peruano (PAP) party has already jumped to that designation, since for them it is not possible to appoint a person who worked with former president Ollanta Humala, referring to Walter Albán.

The toga cartel also happens in Colombia

In Colombia, a similar situation has occurred after, in 2017, it became known as magistrates of the Supreme Court of Justice and prosecutors accepted bribes to delay and delay judicial processes. Even the DEA has participated in the investigation, since one of those involved, the ex-governor of the department of Córdoba, Alejando Lyons, who fled to Miami and became an informant for the anti-drug agency, showed that one of the prosecutors was asking for money to delay the processes against him.

In the investigation made by the newspaper El Espectador de Colombia, it is said that more than 50 people are being investigated that are spreading not only to the judicial branch, but also to the legislative branch. The DEA is actively participating in the investigation, since money laundering is planned using US territory.

LatinAmerican Post | Carlos Eduardo Gómez Avella

Translated from "Todo lo que debe saber del cartel descubierto en la justicia peruana"