Peru’s public prosecutor’s office has accused leftist presidential candidate Roberto Sánchez of financial crimes, seeking a prison sentence of five years and four months just weeks before a scheduled presidential run-off.
The allegations were unsealed on Tuesday, hours after electoral authorities indicated that Sánchez, the candidate of Juntos por el Perú, remained on track to advance to the June 7 second round against conservative rival Keiko Fujimori. With 99.76 percent of ballots counted, Fujimori led the first round with 17.17 percent, while Sánchez had 12 percent, narrowly ahead of former Lima mayor Rafael López Aliaga on 11.91 percent.
According to reports by RPP and El Comercio, prosecutors accuse Sánchez of making false statements in administrative proceedings and falsifying information about campaign contributions submitted by his party to Peru’s National Office of Electoral Processes. The case relates to party financial reports from the 2018–2020 period and later filings in 2020 and 2021.
Prosecutors allege that Sánchez and his brother, William Sánchez, received more than 280,000 soles, about $81,700, in contributions and membership fees that were not properly declared in party financial reports. They are also seeking a permanent disqualification that would bar Sánchez from continuing as president of Juntos por el Perú.
Sánchez has rejected the accusations. His lawyer told local media that responsibility for financial filings rested with the party treasurer, not the presidential candidate. Sánchez also said he was calm in the face of the investigation and denied wrongdoing.
A judge is expected to decide on May 27 whether the case should proceed to trial. The timing of the accusation has added new uncertainty to an already tense election, with the final first-round result expected by May 15.
The case could become a major issue in the run-off campaign. Sánchez is running with the backing of jailed former President Pedro Castillo, while Fujimori, daughter of late former President Alberto Fujimori, is making her fourth bid for the presidency. Recent polling suggested the two could be locked in a close second-round contest.
