Peruvian Public Ministry controversy

[1][2][3] The scandal revolved around alleged irregularities with the decisions of electing the Ombudsman of Peru Josué Gutiérrez Cóndor, dismissing former attorney general Zoraida Ávalos and attempts to remove the members of the National Board of Justice (JNJ), all in reported attempts for Benavides to main control of the Public Ministry by nominating allies in judicial positions.

[16] It was reported that Emma had nearly a dozen phone calls with Edwin Oviedo, the former head of the Peruvian Football Federation who was implicated as one of the main funders in the Cuellos Blancos scandal.

[20][21] The move by Congress was condemned by some Peruvian media outlets and international NGOs; newspaper La República and a letter signed by NGOs including the Center for Justice and International Law (CEJIL), Due Process of Law Foundation, Fundación Construir, Fundación para la Justicia y el Estado Democrático de Derecho (FJEDD), Human Rights Watch, the International Commission of Jurists, Observatorio Derechos y Justicia (ODJ), Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights and the Washington Office on Latin America described the actions as a "parliamentary coup".

[28] The group also drafted documents to remove Marita Barreto from her position at the Special Team of Prosecutors against Corruption in Power (EFICOP), the entity that was investigating Benavides.

[2] In leaked messages, Villanueva is seen telling congressman that only he acted on behalf of Benavides, with the chats reportedly showing his planning of the dismissal of Zoraida Ávalos and the attempted dismantling of the JNJ.

In that context, the Ombudsman is very important, because he is the one who presides over the commission that will elect the new National Board of Justice.In a message flanked by two members of the Supreme Court of Peru, Benavides said that the investigation was a planned attack against her.

[4] Ruth Luque Ibarra of Together for Peru filed a constitutional complain against Benavides, accusing her of leading a criminal organization and influence peddling.

[30] Following his arrest, Jaime Villanueva became an informant regarding Benavides' actions, reporting that she led a group whose objectives were to remove the JNJ, disqualify Zoraida Ávalos and to appoint Josué Gutiérrez as Ombudsman of Peru.