Recently ousted former Peruvian President Pedro Castillo was given three years of pre-trial detention on Thursday for allegedly working to rig public works contracts while in office.
Castillo is already serving a separate 18 months of pre-trial detention for allegedly staging a rebellion when he unsuccessfully tried to dissolve Congress in December. Castillo, a former teacher and union leader, was elected in 2021 when he campaigned with a radical left platform.
He was quickly embroiled in corruption scandals and faced several criminal investigations while in office. He also had a rocky relationship with an opposition-controlled congress. In December, hours before an impeachment vote against him, Castillo stunned Peruvians by announcing he was dissolving parliament instead and would rule by decree. However, congress voted to oust him and he was swiftly arrested.
