A key witness in the Corruption Corruption case of the former feather Susanna Villaran

A key witness in the corruption case of a former mayor of Peru capital, Lima, was found dead in his home, prosecutors of Peruvian, less than three months before the process began.

Jose Miguel Castro, who lived under house arrest, was an employee of the municipality during the term of Susana Villaran as mayor from 2011 to 2014.

He was a teammate in the trial with Mrs. Villaran, who was accused of receiving bribes worth $ 10 million (£ 7.3 million) by Brazilian construction companies.

In 2019, Jzh Villaran admitted that she received funds from these companies, but denied that they were bribe. Castro cooperates with the investigation prosecutors. The cause of his death is not yet known.

“He was the second most important person behind d -Ja Villarán,” prosecutor Jose Domingo Perez told Peruvian News Channel N.

“We were expecting his valuable contribution to the process,” he added.

G -Ja Villaran, 75, has been charged with a secret agreement, money laundering and the creation of a criminal organization that has received millions of dollars from Odebrecht construction companies – now called Novonor – and Oas.

Prosecutors said Mr. Castro was the second commander of the alleged criminal organization.

In 2019, Jia Villarán admitted that he was taking Odebrecht and Oas funds to finance his mayoral campaign for 2013 for staying in office, but denied that they were bribes.

The process is due to start on September 23.

G -ja Villaran is one of a number of Peruvian politicians involved in the odebrecht scandal.

In 2016, the Brazilian construction giant admitted that he bribed Latin America employees and parts of Africa to receive construction contracts.

Since then, a number of former Peruvian presidents have been investigated, including Olenta Humala, which was sentenced to 15 years in prison this year, and Alejandro Toledo, who was sentenced to more than 20 years in prison last year.

Another former leader, Alan Garcia, committed suicide when authorities arrived at his house to arrest him in 2019.

An investigation against another former President Pedro Pablo Kuchinski continues. He denies the allegations.