Peru president’s residence raided in luxurious watch investigation | Corruption Information

Dozens of officers concerned in operation to find Rolex watches President Boluarte has reportedly not disclosed.

The house of Peru’s President Dina Boluarte has been raided as a part of a unbroken corruption investigation linked to undisclosed luxurious watches, police mentioned.

About 40 officers have been concerned within the raid early on Saturday to seek for Rolex watches that Boluarte had not declared, the AFP information company reported, citing a police doc.

The joint operation between police and the prosecutor’s workplace was broadcast on native tv channel Latina. Televised photos confirmed authorities brokers from an investigative crew breaking into the president’s residence with a sledgehammer, The Related Press information company reported.

As authorities brokers surrounded the home within the Surquillo district of the capital, Lima, officers blocked oncoming site visitors. The president didn’t seem like residence on the time.

The raid “is for the aim of search and seizure,” police mentioned of the operation authorised by the judiciary on the request of the legal professional common’s workplace.

The authorities this month launched an investigation into Boluarte after native information outlet La Encerrona reported that the president had worn numerous Rolex watches at official occasions.

Responding to questions on how she may afford such costly timepieces on a public wage, she mentioned they have been a product of working exhausting since she was 18 years outdated, and reportedly urged the media to not delve into private issues.

Legal professional Normal Juan Villena this week criticised Boluarte’s request to delay her look earlier than the courtroom for 2 weeks, emphasising her obligation to cooperate with the investigation and supply proof of buy for her watches.

He additionally mentioned Boluarte was obligated to supply the three Rolex watches for investigation and warned in opposition to their disposal or destruction.

The federal government comptroller later introduced it will evaluate Boluarte’s asset declarations from the previous two years to seek for any irregularities.

Boluarte, 61, has staunchly defended herself.

“I entered the Authorities Palace with clear fingers, and I’ll go away it with clear fingers,” she mentioned final week.

Boluarte got here to energy in July 2021 as vice chairman and social inclusion minister, after which took workplace as president in December 2022 after former President Pedro Castillo tried to dissolve Congress and rule by decree, resulting in his fast elimination and arrest.

A minimum of 49 folks have been killed within the protests that adopted.

Critics accuse Boluarte’s authorities of taking an more and more authoritarian bent because it staves off calls for for early elections and works with members of Congress on legal guidelines that threaten to undermine the independence of Peru’s judicial system.