Former President of Peru to Remain in Detention for 1.5 Years

The deposed former president of Peru, Pedro Castillo, will remain in pretrial detention for 18 months, as ruled by the country’s Supreme Court, amidst protests from his supporters outside the courthouse and throughout the country, CNN reports.

Castillo, a former teacher and union leader from one of Peru's rural areas, was impeached and removed from office last week after attempting to dissolve Congress and establish a state of emergency – a move legislators termed an attempt at a coup. Since then, he has been accused of rebellion and conspiracy, charges he denies.

The prolonged detention reflects the complexities of the case and the potential risk of flight, stated Supreme Court Judge Juan Carlos Checklin after prosecutors warned that the former president might seek asylum outside the country, asserting that 18 months is sufficient for their investigation.