Arturo “Pinturita” Cárdenas will serve 36 months in pre-trial detention

After being a fugitive from justice for six months, the leader Peru Libre Arturo Cardenas nicknamed “ Pinturita” must serve three years in pre-trial detention following the ruling of the Seventh Preparatory Investigation Court of the National Superior Court which ordered his placement in the penitentiary institution that INPE deems appropriate. The same measure has been imposed on Waldys Vilcapoma Manrique who is also being investigated by criminal organization in the well-known case Los dynamics del centro.

The reward for knowing the whereabouts of Arturo Cárdenas was S/80,000 after at the end of last year the National Appeals Criminal Chamber confirmed the arrest warrant against him and his preventive detention for 36 months. Cárdenas had been a fugitive from justice since October 6, when the aforementioned measure was issued.

The fiscal thesis states that Cárdenas would be a member of the aforementioned organization, which would also be part of the leader of Peru Libre, Vladimir Cerrón. The job of “Pinturita” Cárdenas would have been to hire people close to the Peru-Libre National Political Party, taking advantage of his status as national secretary of that political group.

Authorities believe that Cárdenas would have promoted the manipulation of CAS contracts in the Regional Government of Junín, either by addressing the terms of reference, interviews and even achieving the declaration of desert of a certain call in order to allow figures close to the political party that he is part of are able to qualify for the nomination phase of important positions.

“Pinturita” Cárdenas would be a key element to learn in detail and first-hand the criminal handling of Los dynamicos del centro, a group made up of members of Peru Libre, a party that led Pedro Castillo to the presidency of the republic.

WHAT IS THE CASE OF “THE DYNAMICS OF THE CENTER”?

This is an investigation started in 2019 in the Junín region in which various figures from Peru Libre who have already held important positions in the government of Pedro Castillo such as former premier Guido Bellido would be involved. It is presumed that there was an organization embedded in the Regional Directorate of Transport and Communications (DRTC) of the regional government of Junín that would have secured significant funding through the issuance of driver's licenses.

In the case of Arturo Cárdenas, it is someone who has participated in GORE Junín in both of Vladimir Cerrón's efforts in positions of trust. The prosecutor's office has a conversation between the aforementioned Carrado relative and another official named Eduardo Bendezú. These would hear the attempt to obtain financial resources for the financing of the party's election campaigns, as well as the interference of one of the trusted persons of the suspended governor of Junín, Vladimir Cerrón, for the alleged promotion of jobs to third parties.

The money raised by “The dynamics of the center” would have found a place in Pedro Castillo's presidential campaign. “This campaign has been done by the people. I rule out all those things. In any case, if it is said that an investigation has to be done, let it be done right now” were the words of the then candidate who today heads the country from the Government Palace. For his part, today's premier Aníbal Torres ruled out the possibility of financing. “You probably financed Peru Libre, but have you financed Pedro Castillo? Don't judge before there is a court decision,” he said in the middle of last year.

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