Castillo's Downfall: Peru's Ex-President Sentenced to 11 Years for Coup Bid
Image Source: Internet
Peru's Supreme Court has handed down a significant verdict, sentencing former President Pedro Castillo to over 11 years in prison for attempting to dissolve Congress and seize power. This decision comes after Castillo's dramatic impeachment and imprisonment in 2022, when he attempted to rule by decree to avoid removal. Castillo, a former rural schoolteacher and trade unionist, rose to power in 2021 on a promise to uplift Peru's poor. However, his time in office was marked by clashes with an opposition-dominated Congress, and he was ultimately impeached and jailed. The Supreme Court found Castillo guilty of 'conspiracy to commit rebellion' against the state and the constitutional order, but acquitted him on separate charges of abuse of power and disturbing public order. His former prime minister, Betssy Chavez, was also sentenced to 11.5 years in prison. The verdict has sparked outrage among Castillo's supporters, who see him as a victim of persecution. "We are suffering for our president because he didn't steal a single sol," said Julia Buendia, a supporter outside the prison. "An innocent man is imprisoned here. We demand justice.
