Peru's Supreme Court President Resigns Over Corruption Scandal
Mohammad Ali (@ChaudhryMAli88) Published July 20, 2018 | 01:06 AM
Peru's Supreme Court president Duberli Rodriguez offered his resignation on Thursday after the publication of a series of audio recordings sparked a growing scandal over the sale of sentences and influence peddling.
Lima, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 19th Jul, 2018 ) :Peru's Supreme Court president Duberli Rodriguez offered his resignation on Thursday after the publication of a series of audio recordings sparked a growing scandal over the sale of sentences and influence peddling.
"Given the institutional crisis that the judicial branch is going through, I present my irrevocable resignation from the post," said Rodriguez in a short letter published on the Supreme Court's Twitter account.
Rodriguez said the reasons for his resignation would be explained during a Supreme Court extraordinary session on Thursday afternoon.
He had been under pressure from Supreme Court colleagues demanding he resign so someone else -- completely untouched by the scandal -- could be tasked with reorganizing the judicial system.
Peru's judicial branch had announced a 90-day emergency on Wednesday, signed by Rodriguez and published in the El Peruano newspaper.
"In response to the judicial problems it is imperative that urgent and immediate measures are adopted to restore the normal, efficient and transparent development of jurisdictional activities," the judicial authority's resolution stated.
The National Council of the Magistracy's (CNM) president Orlando Velasquez also resigned on Thursday after just three days in the job, saying he did so for "dignity.
" The CNM is the body that nominates judges and prosecutors.
The news comes less than a week after Peruvian President Martin Vizcarra dismissed Justice Minister Salvador Heresi over the embarrassing revelations.
"For the health of the justice system reform, I've asked minister Heresi to resign," Vizcarra had said on Twitter. "The period Peru is going through requires firm action." Vizcarra appointed a committee of six jurists headed by ex-chancellor Allan Wagner to deliver a judicial reform proposal.
He has called an extraordinary session in parliament for Friday to discuss the possibility of a blanket resignation of CNM magistrates.
The diffusion of inflammatory audio recordings began 10 days ago on investigative journalism website IDL-Reporteros and the Panorama program on television station Canal 5, after which the public prosecutor's office opened an investigation into suspected influence peddling.
A number of judges and judicial officials implicated in the scandal have been suspended.
Heresi was sacked after a conversation between him and Supreme Court judge Cesar Hinostroza, another implicated in the affair, was played on television.
In the recording, Heresi asks Hinostroza to come to his office to talk to him about a legal initiative.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
PTI to stage nationwide protests against alleged electoral frauds
Senate continues discussion on Presidential address to Joint Sitting of Parliame ..
Masood Khan calls for Pak-US cooperation for regional peace
Interior Minister starts Margalla Trail Patrol for security
Currency Rate In Pakistan - Dollar, Euro, Pound, Riyal Rates On 26 April 2024
Today Gold Rate in Pakistan 26 April 2024
ICC Womens T20 World Cup Qualifier, Match 2: Ireland Women open with Comfortable ..
Robinson, bowlers help New Zealand go 2-1 up against Pakistan
Shahzeb Chachar to hold khuli kachehri on April 26
Heatwave amid Israel's aggression in Gaza brings new misery, disease risk
Tourism must change, mayor says as Venice launches entry fee
Court adjourns Judicial Complex attack case till May 17
More Stories From World
-
Clean energy drives massive BHP takeover bid
7 minutes ago -
Copper price tops $10,000 for first time in two years
27 minutes ago -
Ukraine agriculture minister held for alleged corruption
36 minutes ago -
China calls Germany spy claims 'pure fabrication'
47 minutes ago -
Singapore expects 1-3 pct growth this year
56 minutes ago -
Hong Kong's Hang Seng Tech Index rises over 5 pct
56 minutes ago
-
New Zealand business sector R&D expenditure hits 2.21 bln USD
56 minutes ago -
3 dead after mini car falls into west Japan paddy field
56 minutes ago -
Chinese shares higher at midday Friday
57 minutes ago -
Myanmar plans to export 2,000 tons of coffee in 2024-25 fiscal year
1 hour ago -
Chinese shares close higher Friday
1 hour ago -
Pro-Palestinian US campus protests grow as police crack down
1 hour ago