Peru in shock as govt agents raid president's home with sledgehammer

Late on Friday, televised footage shocked Peru as government agents, acting on a judiciary-authorised raid requested by the attorney general’s office, broke into the president’s residence using a sledgehammer.

Dina Boluarte, currently under preliminary investigation, faces allegations of possessing an undisclosed collection of luxury watches since assuming office in July 2021 as vice president and Social Inclusion minister, before becoming president in December 2022.

Initially, Boluarte claimed ownership of at least one Rolex watch, attributing it to personal gains accumulated since the age of 18, and urged the media to refrain from delving into personal matters.

Earlier in the week, Attorney General Juan Villena criticized Boluarte’s request to postpone her court appearance by two weeks, stressing her obligation to cooperate with the investigation.

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Peru has a history of political turmoil, having witnessed six presidents in the last five years. However, Boluarte’s recent statements, seemingly contradicting her earlier commitment to truthfully engage with prosecutors, have further exacerbated the political crisis surrounding her unexplained ownership of Rolex watches.

The Attorney General emphasized Boluarte’s obligation to promptly produce the three Rolex watches for investigation, cautioning against their disposal or destruction.

Boluarte, a 61-year-old lawyer, ascended from a modest district official to vice president under President Pedro Castillo in July 2021, subsequently assuming the presidency in December 2022 following Castillo’s impeachment after he attempted to dissolve congress and rule by decree.

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At least 49 people were killed in the protests that followed.

Critics accuse Boluarte’s government of taking an increasingly authoritarian bent as it staves off demands for early elections and works with members of congress on laws that threaten to undermine the independence of Peru’s judicial system.

With inputs from The Associated Press