Colonel PNP Harvey Colchado was removed on Monday from the headquarters of the Search Division of the General Intelligence Directorate (Digimin) of the Ministry of Interior. Hours later and after the general rejection of the measure, which was described as an obstruction by the prosecution, the Ministry of the Interior stated that it did not authorize said change and that the officer will continue in office.
On Monday, Digimin’s Director of Intelligence, retired PNP Colonel Luis Sánchez Lira, notified him of the decision to remove him from the Search Division through a memorandum.
In the document, Sánchez asked Colchado to hand over the documentation and logistical resources to PNP commander Mario Hidalgo Yen, who will replace him in the post.
The memorandum ordered Colchado to assume “exclusive dedication” the position of general coordinator of the PNP group that supports the special team of prosecutors that investigates the environment of the president peter castle.
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Hours later, the prosecutor Marita Barretocoordinator of the special team, assured that the decision represents “a serious attack on the exercise of the functions of the Public Ministry”.
“Here there is a serious abuse of power and the Minister of the Interior [Willy Huerta] must answer for this fact. This is a serious obstructionist behavior of those who exercise power at this time “he told RPP.
Barreto added that there is an obsession with removing Colonel Colchado. He assured that “they are cutting off his hands so that he can carry out his function”, because he will no longer have logistical resources.
The prosecutor pointed out that Minister Huerta is directly responsible for the decision. In addition, she announced that the Nation’s prosecutor, Patricia Benavides, will rule on this Tuesday.
At another time, she warned that complaints are being prepared against her and other members of the team of prosecutors she leads, with the aim of obstructing the investigations.
Sources from the Public Ministry reported that today a communication will be sent to Minister Huerta regarding the decision against Colchado.
Meanwhile, the lawyer Luis Naldos, Colchado’s legal defender, told El Comercio: “Removing him from his position implies stripping him of economic, logistical and human resources so that he can provide the support requested by the Attorney General’s Office.” .
Recently, Colchado requested the allocation of special resources for the division under his charge.
Through a statement, issued at 1 am on Tuesday, the Ministry indicates that the head of the sector, Willy Huerta, did not authorize the issuance of the memorandum.
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ongoing process
Hours before knowing his retirement from the Search Division, Colchado rejected the statements that President Castillo made against him for the raid on the residence of the Government Palace on August 9, in search of Yenifer Paredes, sister-in-law of the head of the Condition.
Through a brief presented by his lawyer, Luis Naldos, before the PNP Inspectorate, the officer asserted that the complaint seeks to question a judicial resolution indicating that Castillo is not being investigated.
“This story contains a series of untrue facts, merely subjective assessments and aggravating statements that, without any foundation, seek to attribute to me an alleged misconduct and political intent”indicated in the letter to which El Comercio agreed.
In addition, he reiterated that his participation in said procedure “did not take place” in the exercise of functions as a member of the Search Division, but as general coordinator of the PNP team.