Sawt Falasteen - Peru presidential candidate Sanchez could stand trial over campaign finance allegations

Sanchez faces right-wing candidate Keiko Fujimori, daughter of former president Alberto Fujimori, in the second round of the presidential runoff on Sunday.

The two candidates, who are neck-and-neck in the polls, are competing for power against a backdrop of profound political instability, with Peru having cycled through eight presidents since 2016.

Prosecutors have indicted Sanchez, alleging inconsistencies in his party's financial reports and that he received tens of thousands of dollars in unreported contributions. He denies the accusations.

"There are sufficient grounds" for Sanchez "to stand trial", Judge Adolfo Farfan said in his ruling Friday, following a two-day hearing.

The prosecution, which has requested a prison sentence of five years and four months for Sanchez, said it was "satisfied with the decision."

The ruling is not expected to affect the election as Sanchez has a week to submit an appeal. His defense team has already said he will do so.

If elected, Sanchez will be granted immunity under Peru's constitution.

- 'A lie' -

According to the prosecution, inconsistencies were found in the financial records of Sanchez's party in regional and municipal elections from 2018 to 2020 in which he took part.

Sanchez allegedly received more than $57,000 in unreported contributions for party activities.

The case was first brought before the courts in January, but the judiciary partially rejected it and asked prosecutors to reformulate it.

Farfan said Friday the court had now "decided... to recognize the formal validity of the charge."

Sanchez did not immediately respond. He has previously denied the allegations.

"There was never any fraud or misappropriation," Sanchez said in a social media post earlier this year.

"For years they have tried to plant a lie in order to discredit me politically. The courts have already dismissed the accusations about an alleged personal use of the party's financial resources," he said.

Sanchez accuses Keiko Fujimori of belonging to a political "mafia," which he holds responsible for the country's instability.

He has positioned himself as the voice of poorer and rural voters, pledging "radical change."

Keiko Fujimori has campaigned on a hardline security platform, promising military deployments and tougher prisons to confront rising extortion and violent crime.

The last elected president, Pedro Castillo, was ousted in December 2022, about a year-and-a-half into a five-year term.

His deputy Dina Boluarte held on for almost three years before she was ultimately sent packing, leading to a series of interim leaders since late last year.

Around 27 million Peruvians are eligible to vote in Sunday's runoff.

O.Mousa--SF-PST