Peru’s president’s online corruption trial is interrupted by a circling Brazilian stripper whose defense attorney is accusing “computer crime”.
- Male stripper invades an online hearing on Peru’s presidential corruption
- Video surfaced of a presidential attorney accusing “computer crime”.
- The disruption led to a brief hiatus in the corruption hearing
- The unpopular President Pedro Castillo is accused of leading a corruption plot
Lawyers in Peru got a little hot when their online hearing on corruption by the country’s president was interrupted by video of a male stripper dancing.
The conflicting images of well-known internet meme Ricardo Milos temporarily halted a virtual public hearing into the conduct of Peruvian President Pedro Castillo.
Fingers were pointed at a member of the president’s defense team who said he was the victim of “computer crime”.
“The video appeared suddenly and gave the impression that it was from my account, which I deny,” Benji Espinosa told Reuters by phone.
“They show very lewd images,” prosecutor Samuel Rojas said of footage of Milos appearing on screens during the hearing.
Ricardo Milos rose to fame as a meme in 2018 when people on TikTok started using his dance in bait-and-switch videos to surprise unsuspecting viewers.
An online hearing by Peruvian President Pedro Castillo on corruption was interrupted by video of a male stripper dancing
Fingers were pointed at Benji Espinosa, a member of the president’s defense team, who said he was a victim of “computer crime.”
“They show very suggestive imagery,” prosecutor Samuel Rojas (pictured) said as footage of the Milos appeared on screens during the hearing
President Pedro Castillo is accused of spearheading a corruption plot involving his former Transport and Communications Minister, Juan Silva, who is currently in hiding
Ricardo Milos rose to fame as a meme in 2018 when people on TikTok started using his dance in bait-and-switch videos to surprise unsuspecting viewers
The unexpected content surfaced as Rojas laid out the reasons why Castillo should be investigated.
The hearing was publicly broadcast on the Justice TV channel, and the offending clip was later widely shared on Twitter.
A Supreme Court judge is reviewing a motion to drop an investigation into whether the president led a corruption plot involving his former Transport and Communications Secretary, Juan Silva, who is currently in hiding.
This week Interpol issued an arrest warrant for Silva, who is wanted in Peru for alleged crimes committed by the criminal organization and collusion.
He is accused of corruption in the award of public works contracts to Peruvian and Chinese construction companies for the construction of the Tarata Bridge in north-central Peru.
The investigation has expanded to include President Castillo.
The president’s legal defense team is trying to prevent prosecutors from questioning him at a hearing scheduled for Friday.
The government of Prussian President Pedro Castillo was rocked by mass protests in Lima this month
During the demonstration, there were clashes with the Peruvian National Police, who were demanding the President’s resignation
A protester waves a sign during a demonstration that reads: Castillo! Don’t be a thief!
The video of Milos appeared through the account of Benji Espinosa, a member of Castillo’s defense team, causing the hearing to be briefly suspended.
Espinosa denied responsibility for the video, saying he was a victim of “computer crime.”
“The video appeared suddenly and gave the impression that it was from my account, which I deny,” Espinosa told Reuters by phone.
The lawyer added that he was filing a complaint with the judge, claiming that the incident “shows that the virtual system of justice is vulnerable.”
Leftist President Castillo is currently facing an investigation into alleged corruption in his government, social protests and a dip in popularity after 10 months in power.