Lima: A video of a dancing Brazilian stripper interrupted a virtual public hearing of Peru’s President Pedro Castillo’s corruption investigation on Wednesday (June 15, 2022). “They are showing very suggestive images,” said prosecutor Samuel Rojas, as footage of the male stripper, Ricardo Milos, appeared on screen during the trial. Unexpected material appeared as Rojas was outlining the reasons why Castillo should be investigated. The hearing was being broadcast publicly on the Judiciary Branch’s television channel, after the objectionable clip was shared widely on Twitter.
A Supreme Court judge is evaluating a request to drop an investigation into whether the president led a corruption conspiracy involving his former transport and communications minister, Juan Silva, which is currently in hiding.
The president’s legal defense team is trying to prevent prosecutors from questioning him at Friday’s hearing.
Video of Milos appeared via the user account of Castillo’s defense team member Benji Espinosa, prompting the hearing to be postponed for some time.
Espinosa denied being responsible for the video, saying he was the victim of a “computer crime”.
“The video suddenly surfaced, giving the impression that it came from my account, which I deny,” Espinosa told Reuters over the phone.
The lawyer said he was filing a complaint with the judge and claimed that the incident “shows that the virtual system of the judiciary is weak.”
Left-wing President Castillo is currently facing investigations into alleged corruption in his government, social protests and declining popularity after 10 months in power.