Peruvian Presidential Candidate Faces Criminal Charges Amid Election Runoff Race

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Lima: Peruvian presidential candidate Roberto Sanchez is facing criminal accusations over alleged irregularities in his party's financial reporting, just as he appears set to advance to the country's presidential runoff election.

A prosecutor has requested a prison sentence of five years and four months for Sanchez if he is convicted, according to local media reports. The prosecutor has also sought to bar him from holding public office.

The case centres on allegations that Sanchez and his political party submitted false information about campaign contributions in financial reports filed in 2020 and 2021. Prosecutors accuse him of making false statements in administrative proceedings and providing inaccurate information regarding party finances.

The accusations emerged as vote counting from Peru's first-round presidential election showed Sanchez on course to secure a place in the runoff against conservative candidate Keiko Fujimori. With nearly all ballots counted, electoral authorities indicated that Sanchez remained in a qualifying position, although the final official results are still pending.

Sanchez has denied wrongdoing. His lawyer argued that responsibility for preparing and submitting the party's financial reports rested with the party treasurer rather than the presidential candidate.

A judge is expected to decide later this month whether the case will proceed to trial. The legal challenge adds further uncertainty to an election already marked by political tensions and close competition between candidates.

Pic Credit: AFP