A Peruvian judge has rejected a prosecutorial request to bar former President Dina Boluarte from leaving the country, allowing her to travel freely despite ongoing investigations into alleged abuse of office and money laundering.
Boluarte was abruptly removed from the presidency last week by Congress in a unanimous vote of 122 to zero.
Her tenure ended amid historically low approval ratings of 2 to 4 percent, fueled by widespread unrest over escalating insecurity, including protests by transport workers and young people against rising extortions and murders.
Judicial Ruling on Travel Ban
On Wednesday, Judge Fernando Valdez dismissed the State Prosecutor's Office bid during a hearing, ruling that Boluarte posed no flight risk and that the request was unfounded.
The former leader, who has denied all wrongdoing, now faces a range of criminal accusations tied to her time in office.
Investigators allege she collected funds from a criminal group and appointed health officials connected to her personal medical procedures.
In one prominent case, Boluarte is accused of abandoning her presidential duties for two weeks in July 2023 to undergo rhinoplasty surgery without notifying Congress or designating a caretaker president.
Corruption probes also focus on the unexplained origins of her collection of luxury Rolex watches.
Additionally, her administration stands accused of deploying excessive force against deadly protests that erupted in support of her predecessor, Pedro Castillo, following his impeachment and removal in December 2022.
The night of her ouster saw crowds assemble outside Ecuador's embassy in Lima, spurred by rumors that Boluarte might seek asylum in the neighboring nation.
Peru's political landscape remains deeply unstable, marked by seven presidents in seven years.
Three former leaders currently languish in prison, while more than half of the congressional representatives — many of whom share Boluarte's unpopularity — face active investigations by state prosecutors.
This latest judicial decision underscores the challenges in holding ousted officials accountable amid the nation's persistent turmoil.