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Peru: Petition for clarification on Keiko Fujimori's release declared inadmissible

16:47 | Lima, Dec. 4.

Peru's Constitutional Court (TC) on Wednesday declared inadmissible the petition for clarification —filed by Judicial Branch Attorney Marco Palomino— over its resolution confirming the release of Fuerza Popular (Popular Force) party leader Keiko Fujimori.

The ruling was signed by magistrates Ernesto Blume, Carlos Ramos, Jose Luis Sardon, and Augusto Ferrero Costa.

As is known, former Congresswoman and ex-presidential candidate Keiko Fujimori left the women's prison facility in Lima's Chorrillos district last Friday after being held in preventive detention for nearly 13 months over alleged money laundering offenses related to the corruption-tainted Brazilian company Odebrecht.

Constitutional Court

On November 25, the Constitutional Court (TC) decided to declare well founded the habeas corpus submitted by Keiko Fujimori's relatives to annul the preventive detention imposed on her.

The decision was adopted during a plenary session held that day at the TC headquarters.

The presentation on the habeas corpus in favor of Fuerza Popular party leader's freedom was in charge of TC Chairman Ernesto Blume.

"Concerning the decision taken, I must clarify that the Constitutional Court has not passed judgment on the substantive issue in the case of citizen Keiko Sofia Fujimori Higuchi, and has not declared her acquittal or condemned her. That is the exclusive responsibility of the Judicial Branch," Blume told reporters at a press conference following the announcement.

TC members Ernesto Blume, Jose Luis Sardon, Augusto Ferrero Costa, and Carlos Ramos voted in favor of the habeas corpus. For their part, Eloy Espinosa-Saldaña, Manuel Miranda, and Marianella Ledesma voted against the petition.

Such appeal was filed last July by Sachi Fujimori —sister of the former presidential candidate— with the purpose of annulling the preventive detention order.

In the habeas corpus, the relative sued the Second Criminal Court of National Appeals Chair Cesar Sahuanay, who ratified —in second instance— the preventive detention order against the former Congresswoman.

Preventive detention

As is known, Keiko Fujimori was ordered to serve preventive detention over alleged money laundering charges linked to the Brazilian company Odebrecht.

Thus, she was accused of leading a criminal organization within the Fuerza Popular political party.

Back then, the Judicial Branch declared well-founded the request made by the Prosecutor's Office to imprison Fujimori because of the danger of obstruction of justice that implied keeping her free.

On October 31, 2018, Judge Richard Concepcion Carhuancho ordered her preventive detention for 36 months. However, last September, the Judicial Branch ruled in favor of reducing the preventive detention to 18 months.

She is the daughter of former President Alberto Fujimori, who ruled the Inca country between 1990 and 2000. He is currently in jail for crimes of corruption and against human rights committed during his time in office.

(END) RMCH/JCC/RMB/MVB

Published: 12/4/2019

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Peru: Petition for clarification on Keiko Fujimori's release declared inadmissible

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