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Peru’s Congress Lifts Judge Jorge Salas Arenas’s Immunity to Allow Criminal Investigation

The file moves to the National Prosecutor’s Office to consider proceedings over an alleged hiring request tied to the ‘Cuellos Blancos’ case.

Overview

  • Lawmakers approved the resolution by 50 votes in favor, 21 against and 8 abstentions, authorizing the formation of a criminal case and lifting functional immunity.
  • Salas Arenas, a Supreme Court magistrate and former head of the JNE, is accused as the presumed instigator of negotiation incompatible or improper use of office under Article 399.
  • The complaint cites a call in which he allegedly asked ex-judge Walter Ríos to hire his former secretary, Pavel Cárdenas, linking the matter to the ‘Los Cuellos Blancos del Puerto’ network.
  • Constitutional Denunciation No. 469 was presented by former interim prosecutor general Juan Carlos Villena and draws on statements from Walter Ríos.
  • Defense attorney Elí Vidal rejects the allegations and argues exculpatory testimony was not properly evaluated as the case now passes to the Fiscalía de la Nación.