Peru’s Supreme Court on Thursday sentenced former leftist President Pedro Castillo to more than 11 years in prison for attempting to dissolve Congress and rule by decree to avoid impeachment.
Dubbed Peru’s first poor president, Castillo, a former rural schoolteacher with no prior elected office experience, was impeached and jailed following his attempted power grab in December 2022.
During his 16-month tenure, he frequently clashed with an opposition-dominated Congress, accusing lawmakers of trying to maintain power among the elite.
The verdict comes a day after another left-wing former president, Martin Vizcarra, was sentenced to 14 years for bribery while serving as a regional governor.
Vizcarra joined two other former presidents already imprisoned at a special penitentiary for former leaders at a police base east of Lima on corruption charges: Ollanta Humala (2011–2016) and Alejandro Toledo (2001–2006).
56-year-old Castillo was also held at the facility pending the outcome of his trial, conducted in a courtroom adjacent to the prison.
The former trade unionist, who won the presidency in 2021 promising to uplift Peru’s poor, attempted to dissolve Congress to prevent impeachment over alleged corruption.
His move failed, with members of his own government opposing what prosecutors described as an attempted coup.
Delivering its judgment, the Supreme Court convicted him of conspiracy to commit rebellion against the powers of the state and the constitutional order.
The court acquitted Castillo on separate charges of abuse of power and disturbing public order. He was sentenced to 11 years, five months, and 15 days in prison, far less than the 34-year sentence sought by prosecutors.
Castillo was arrested while traveling to the Mexican embassy, with his family, to request asylum. His wife and two children have lived in exile since then.
Dozens of Castillo supporters gathered outside the prison on Thursday awaiting the verdict.
“We are suffering for our president because he didn’t steal a single sol (the Peruvian currency). An innocent man is imprisoned here. We demand justice,” one supporter said.
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