Peru ex-President Castillo sentenced for rebellion

Pedro Castillo was convicted over his failed attempt to dissolve Peru's Congress and seize broad powers in late 2022.

Peru's Supreme Court on Thursday sentenced former leftist President Pedro Castillo to over 11 years in prison for rebellion.

The charges relate to his failed attempt to dissolve parliament and rule by decree at the end of 2022.

The verdict comes a day after another former president, Martin Vizcarra, was sentenced to 14 years in prison for taking bribes years before he took office.

Castillo's arrest sparked mass protests

Elected in 2021 to lift Peru's poor, Castillo tried to dissolve Congress to avoid impeachment over corruption. The move backfired when his own ministers turned against him.

He was arrested on his way to the Mexican embassy to claim asylum and later faced charges of rebellion and abuse of power.

Castillo's arrest and impeachment ignited widespread protests that were violently suppressed, resulting in at least 50 deaths.

Prosecutors had requested a 34-year prison sentence for Castillo.

Edited by: Dmytro Hubenko