Peruvian Court Rejects Ex-Presidential Candidate Roberto Sánchez's Bid to Overturn Trial
Peru's Judiciary has rejected a new attempt by former presidential candidate Roberto Sánchez to annul the oral trial against him. Sánchez, who ran with Juntos por el Perú (JP), is accused of falsifying information regarding campaign contributions and expenses submitted to the National Elections Office (ONPE) between 2019 and 2020. The Public Ministry is seeking a five-year and four-month prison sentence for the now parliamentary advisor.
Sánchez's legal team had filed a motion for annulment, seeking to revert the proceedings to the accusation control stage. They argued a procedural defect by Judge Adolfo Farfán of the 33rd Preparatory Investigation Court of Lima, specifically concerning the admission of evidence presented by the prosecution. The defense claimed this violated due process and Sánchez's right to defense, citing a supposed lack of motivation in the judge's decision to admit all evidence.
Judge Farfán Calderón dismissed these claims, stating that the intermediate stage's purpose is to assess evidence relevance, not to conduct a premature trial. He noted that the defense had opportunities to raise objections during the accusation control hearing. The judge also found no concrete harm to the defense regarding the order of procedural steps, as Sánchez was not prevented from making observations or filing appeals. Consequently, the motion for annulment was declared unfounded. Sánchez also appealed rulings on prescription, nature of action, and res judicata, with these appeals being elevated to a higher court while the main case proceeds to oral trial.
The Peruvian Judiciary's decision to proceed with the oral trial against Roberto Sánchez highlights the legal system's mechanisms for addressing alleged financial improprieties in political campaigns. This case underscores the critical importance of accurate reporting of campaign finance data to electoral bodies like ONPE, as discrepancies can lead to significant legal scrutiny. The repeated legal challenges by Sánchez's defense suggest a strategy to delay proceedings, a common tactic in high-profile cases. The court's adherence to procedural rules, while rejecting Sánchez's arguments, indicates a focus on evidence and due process. Looking ahead, such cases may prompt further regulatory refinement to ensure transparency and accountability in political financing, potentially impacting how future campaigns are managed and audited in Peru.
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