The Attorney General of the Nation, Tomás Gálvez, expressed his concern over the presence of the Defense Minister, Rafael Belaúnde, during an interrogation of one of the suspects in the kidnapping of businessman Jenns Lara. Gálvez warned that this situation could hinder ongoing investigations.
In an interview, Gálvez detailed that the photographs showing Minister Belaúnde in conversations with General Óscar Arriola and other police members do not form part of the official proceedings of the process. He assured that such interactions should have the presence of a prosecutor, as they are the ones who oversee the formal statements of the suspects.
“The prosecutor is present during the formal statement that is taken and even directs the statement,” stated Gálvez, who considered the meeting with Belaúnde to be “informal” and suggested that it could interfere with the development of the investigation. “Whether it is good, appropriate, or relevant, it is definitely not, because it can obstruct the very progress of the investigation,” he declared.
Regarding the legality of what was discussed during that meeting, the prosecutor asserted that “it has no value and could also disturb the very course of the investigation.”
Regarding the collaboration between the Prosecutor’s Office and the National Police of Peru (PNP), Gálvez commented that in cases of violence, such as the kidnapping and murder of four individuals in Trujillo, the investigation is led by the PNP, while the Prosecutor’s Office plays a specific role in requesting preliminary detentions. He clarified that if the Police do not present sufficient evidence, it could hinder the judicial process.
Gálvez also addressed the difficulties of coordination between the PNP and the Public Ministry, indicating that the Police initially “were resistant to coordinate with the Prosecutor’s Office.” This occurred because each entity followed its own strategy, despite the regulations establishing that the prosecutor must initiate and design the investigation strategy.
The prosecutor mentioned that this problem originated partly due to a misinterpretation of a law that allows the Police to initiate preliminary investigations in certain crimes. However, after the intervention of the most experienced prosecutor in Trujillo, Dr. Cisterna, better coordination was achieved.
Source: www.infobae.com
