There are many high-profile politicians who, in the last decade, were harassed by prosecutors who pursued their own agenda. Just last week, for example, the Judiciary lifted the impediment to leaving the country against former President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, 88 years old. Keiko Fujimori herself, the current president, also suffered excesses from the prosecutor’s office and the Judiciary that led her to remain in detention on more than one occasion.
There are many high-profile politicians who, in the last decade, were harassed by prosecutors who pursued their own agenda. Just last week, for example, the Judiciary lifted the impediment to leaving the country against former President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, 88 years old. Keiko Fujimori herself, the current president, also suffered excesses from the prosecutor’s office and the Judiciary that led her to remain in detention on more than one occasion.
This is not, however, the case of the former mayor of the Metropolitan Municipality of Lima (MML), Susana Villarán. As recalled, she confessed in May 2019 to having received funds from Odebrecht and OAS to finance the electoral campaign against her recall. At the time of the transfers, both companies maintained concessions and interests to be negotiated with MML, and Villarán was a practicing official. This makes his situation substantially more serious than that faced by other political leaders in recent years. That it was not known then that there were illegal funds from so-called box 2 or that the resources were used for electoral purposes does not change the evaluation in any way. The payments were, clearly, a crime.
All of this is fully documented, including Villarán’s confession. It is therefore incomprehensible that the case against him is heading towards 10 years and there is still no sentence. Currently, the process is in the oral stage, with one or two sessions per week. At this rate, the trial would end in September 2027. Whatever the result, it will be appealed, which could delay the sentence for a few more years. By then, Villarán will be over 80 years old and would be the beneficiary of a 2024 rule that would allow her to serve her sentence at home.
Obviously, delay is the game. Lawyers consulted by this newspaper suggest special mechanisms to make this particular process more expeditious, but the problem is actually systematic. If even in the most obvious case of political corruption – with public spotlights on it, abundant evidence, confessions and obvious crimes – there is judicial effectiveness, little can be expected from the rest. For all that is known, the former mayor deserves to serve time in prison. The fact that it may never do so should force a reevaluation of the entire system.
