Peru presidential candidate Roberto Sanchez charged with financial crimes

"Peru's public prosecutor's office has accused leftist presidential candidate Roberto Sanchez of financial crimes, calling for him to be imprisoned for five years and four months. The charges, unsealed on Tuesday, came hours after electoral authorities confirmed Sanchez was on track to advance to the country's presidential run-off, scheduled for June 7."

"According to the El Comercio newspaper, prosecutors allege that Sanchez, who is the candidate of the Juntos por el Peru (Together for Peru) party, filed false financial disclosures with the National Office of Electoral Processes related to campaign contributions between 2018 and 2020. Prosecutors say Sanchez and his brother, William Sanchez, received more than 280,000 Peruvian soles ($81,720) in contributions and membership fees that were never disclosed in the party's financial filings."

"In addition to the jail term, prosecutors were also seeking a permanent disqualification of Sanchez from holding the office of president for the Juntos por el Peru party, according to El Comercio. Sanchez's lawyer rejected the accusations, telling local outlet RPP that the party's treasurer, not Sanchez, was responsible for its financial filings. A judge is expected to decide on May 27 whether the case will go to trial."

"The charges emerged as vote counting from last month's first-round election showed Sanchez advancing to a run-off against conservative rival Keiko Fujimori. With 99.76 percent of ballots counted, Fujimori, the daughter of late former President Alberto Fujimori and a four-time presidential candidate, held a commanding lead with 17.17 percent of the vote. Sanchez, running with the backing of jailed former President Pedro Castillo, stood at 12 percent."

Peruvian prosecutors accused leftist presidential candidate Roberto Sanchez of financial crimes and sought a five-year-four-month prison sentence. Charges were unsealed as electoral authorities confirmed he would advance to the June 7 presidential run-off. Prosecutors alleged Sanchez filed false financial disclosures with the National Office of Electoral Processes covering campaign contributions and membership fees from 2018 to 2020. They claimed Sanchez and his brother received more than 280,000 Peruvian soles that were not disclosed in party financial filings. Prosecutors also alleged false statements in administrative proceedings and sought permanent disqualification from holding the presidency. Sanchez’s lawyer denied the accusations, saying the party treasurer was responsible for the filings. A judge is expected to decide on May 27 whether the case goes to trial.

Read at www.aljazeera.com