Sawt Falasteen - Peru ex-president Castillo hospitalized on Day 4 of hunger strike

Castillo, 55, went on trial last week over an attempt to dissolve Congress to avoid impeachment for alleged graft. He has been in preventive custody since December 2022.

On Monday, his lawyer said Castillo had declared a hunger strike as a "peaceful protest" against his "unjust, arbitrary" imprisonment.

He was taken to hospital Thursday after falling ill, but was "stable" and out of danger, trial judge Norma Carbajal said in the courtroom. She rejected a defense request to postpone the hearing in Castillo's absence.

The leftist former schoolteacher, dubbed Peru's "first poor president" on his election in 2021, was ousted and arrested just 17 months into his term.

After taking office in July 2021, Castillo faced vehement political opposition on all fronts and investigations started almost immediately into numerous graft claims, which he rejected as political.

He survived two impeachment votes and was about to be subjected to a third, which is what prompted his attempt to dissolve Congress and rule by decree.

Instead, Castillo was arrested as he was making his way to the Mexican Embassy in Lima with his wife and two children.

Prosecutors have asked for a 34-year prison sentence for Castillo on charges of rebellion and abuse of authority.

Three ex-ministers, a former presidential adviser and three police officials are on trial with Castillo -- the fourth former Peruvian president in the last quarter century to find himself in the dock.

Y.AlMasri--SF-PST