Leaked calls reveal systemic corruption in Peru’s judiciary, sparking flurry of resignations
A set of secretly recorded phone conversations between high-court officials in Peru has revealed widespread corruption in the judicial system’s top ranks, sparking a flurry of dramatic resignations this past week.
The conversations feature five main officials — the chief justice of the Superior Court of Callao, a Supreme Court justice and three members of the National Magistrates Council. The men are overheard trading a host of favors including job positions, World Cup tickets and reduced sentences for convicts.
In one of the recordings, many of which have been broadcast on national television, a Supreme Court justice, César José Hinostroza, offers to adjust the sentencing for a person charged with raping an 11-year-old girl. “Yes, I’m going to look at the file,” he said, speaking to an unnamed person. “What is it they want, to get the sentence lowered or to be declared innocent?” It is unclear whether the suspect in the case was convicted.
Read the complete article in the Washington Post here: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2018/07/20/leaked-calls-reveal-systemic-corruption-in-perus-judiciary-sparking-flurry-of-resignations/?noredirect=on
