Prime Minister of Peru Guido Bellido Ugarte has become a defendant in a money laundering criminal case. Leader of the ruling Free Peru party Vladimir Cerron and party’s speaker Waldemar Cerron have also been charged. El Comercio newspaper reports.
The head of government was accused of involvement in illegal financing of the election campaign of the Free Peru party.
Prosecutor Richard Rojas launched an investigation into the party’s funding a month ago. The case includes 17 suspects
The prosecutor’s office believes that part of the party structure was used to legalize illegal assets, and Vladimir Cerron is the leader of the criminal scheme for illegal financing of the party.
According to the prosecutor’s office, based on audiotapes dated December 2020, Bellido did not only know about the possible corruption schemes, but also coordinated them, personally participating in financial fraud.
Meanwhile, Bellido is already under investigation in another case. He is suspected of possible links with the Peruvian terrorist organization Shining Path by having paid tribute on social networks to members of this organization who operated in the 1980s.
Bellido’s appointment as Prime Minister took place on July 28, 2021.
