A shocking revelation has emerged in the case against Susana Villarán, the former mayor of Lima, as key witness José Miguel Castro has been found dead at his home. Castro, who had been placed under house arrest, was instrumental in the ongoing corruption investigation due to his role during Villarán's term from 2011 to 2014. He was scheduled to stand trial alongside Villarán, who faces allegations of accepting approximately $10 million from Brazilian construction firms.
Although Villarán acknowledged receiving funds in 2019, she asserted they were not bribes. Castro’s death, the cause of which remains unclear, has left prosecutors concerned about the implications for their case. Peruvian prosecutor José Domingo Pérez emphasized Castro's significance, stating, "He was the second most important person behind Ms Villarán," and expressed that they were looking forward to his testimony.
Villarán, at 75 years old, faces serious charges, including collusion and money laundering, as part of a broader investigation implicating numerous Peruvian politicians in the notorious Odebrecht scandal, which revealed extensive bribery practices across Latin America. This development comes just weeks before the trial is set to begin on September 23, highlighting the growing tensions surrounding political corruption in Peru and the ongoing impact of the Odebrecht scandal in the region.
