Peru’s Supreme Court on Thursday sentenced former leftist President Pedro Castillo to more than 11 years in prison on rebellion charges.
The charges relate to his failed attempt to dissolve parliament in late 2022 and rule by decree.
The decision came a day after another former president, Martin Vizcarra, was sentenced to 14 years in prison for taking bribes years before taking office.
Castillo’s arrest sparked massive protests.
Castillo, who was elected in 2021 to lift up Peru’s poor, tried to dissolve Congress to avoid impeachment over corruption. This move backfired when his own ministers turned against him.
He was arrested while traveling to the Mexican Embassy to claim asylum and later faced charges of rebellion and abuse of power.
Castillo’s arrest and impeachment sparked widespread protests that were violently suppressed, resulting in at least 50 deaths.
Prosecutors had requested a 34-year prison sentence for Castillo.
Edited by: Dmytro Lyubenko