Living in Peru : your everyday companion

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

President Alan Garcia enacted today the law which makes Peru one of the signatories of The Hague Apostille, a legal instrument which eliminates the requirement of diplomatic or consular legalization for public documents presented by Peruvian citizens when traveling abroad.

Thus, the only formality required to certify the authenticity of a signature on a document will be the presence of The Hague Apostille, a special stamp on a document that certifies the authenticity of a signature.

The documents issued in a country that is a signatory of this international agreement, and that have been certified by The Hague Apostille must be recognized in any other country without other authentication, saving time and money to users.

Have other topics you'd like to see in our news section? If you or someone you know would like to contribute a news article to Living in Peru, whether it's translated or based on a personal investigation, send it to editor@livinginperu.com.

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

From now on, those driving a vehicle while intoxicated or under the influence of drugs will be punished with six months to two years in prison, even if they do not cause an accident.

Meanwhile, if the driver runs over and causes the death of several persons, the penalty increases to eight years imprisonment, as well as with the revoking of the driver's license.

The new law (published today in the the official gazette “El Peruano”) establishes that the penalty will be applied when the alcohol level in blood exceeds 0.5 grams per liter (for private transport drivers) or more than 0.25 grams in the case  of public transportation, passengers, cargo or general cargo.

The law also determines that the drivers who present resistance to the authority or that refuse to undergo any test done to determine their levels of alcohol will also be punished with jail time for not less than six months nor more than four years.

Have other topics you'd like to see in our news section? If you or someone you know would like to contribute a news article to Living in Peru, whether it's translated or based on a personal investigation, send it to editor@livinginperu.com.

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

Peru's Council of Ministers approved a legislative initiative aimed to reduce overcrowding in the prisons of Peru through the use of electronic monitoring bracelets, which initially will be used with about 2,000 prisoners.

The initiative was launched by the Ministry of Justice and would amend several articles of the Penal Code, Criminal Procedure Code and the Code of Criminal Procedure, and will now be forwarded to Congress for debate and approval.

"We have approved this as a project: the text of the bill establishing personal electronic surveillance,” said Justice Minister Aurelio Pastor.

He explained that this may benefit the convicts whose sentences do not exceed 8 years in prison, as well as those who can apply for parole, having served part of their sentence.

Have other topics you'd like to see in our news section? If you or someone you know would like to contribute a news article to Living in Peru, whether it's translated or based on a personal investigation, send it to editor@livinginperu.com.

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

Peruvian Justice accused businesswoman Susan Hoefken for reporting the alleged robbery of a lung of the international exibition "The Human Body: Real and Fascinating."

According to the report made by the Second District Attorney's Office of La Molina, Milagros Mora, Hoefken simulated the robbery of the lung and reported it, despite it being a fake fact, which damaged the image of Peru abroad.

The businesswoman was officially accused by the Prosecutor's Office.

To make the report, the mails sent by Premier Exhibition company were taken into account.

These mails say that Hoefken said she had the lung and simulated the robbery as a marketing strategy.

Have other topics you'd like to see in our news section? If you or someone you know would like to contribute a news article to Living in Peru, whether it's translated or based on a personal investigation, send it to editor@livinginperu.com.

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

After a long investigation, Peru's Air Force Sargeant Victor Ariza Mendoza, who worked at Peru's Embassy in Chile in 2002, was arrested on espionage charges.

Hans Meier, former Peruvian Ambassador to Chile, confirmed to local press that Ariza Mendoza did work at the embassy, but added that he had not any other relationship with the NCO.

According to RadioProgramas del Peru (RPP), Ariza Mendoza was allegedly uncovered when he tried to recruit another NCO for espionage work.

RPP also reported that Ariza Mendoza had received monthly payments between US $5,000 and US$8,000 through a particular money transfer agency.

Former Peru's Defense Minister Antero Flores-Araoz said that if the charges are sustained, the Peruvian state will formally accuse Ariza Mendoza of treason.

Peru's Army General Commander, Jose Graham considered that it is wiser to wait until the investigation ends.

The sociologist Jaime Castro Contreras considered that this is "a matter of concern and alarm" and that “it shows that a continuous work is being done to figure out the Peruvian military vulnerabilities.”

Crimes of treason are punished with death penalty in Peru only if they are commited in cases of war or terrorism, as stated in Article 140 of Peruvian Constitution.

Have other topics you'd like to see in our news section? If you or someone you know would like to contribute a news article to Living in Peru, whether it's translated or based on a personal investigation, send it to editor@livinginperu.com.

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

The leaders of the professional soccer clubs in Peru have signed an agreement with the Internal Affairs Ministry, undertaking themselves not to provide free tickets for the “hooligans” and also to require them the presentation of an ID card and their National Document of Identity (DNI) before entering any stadium.

This is a first attempt to stop the violence from 'barras bravas' (as local hooligans are known in Peru) and to avoid more deaths like that of Maria Paola Vargas.

Peru's Internal Affairs Minister, Octavio Salazar, explained that all these groups of soccer fans must register their members with the help of the National Directorate of Criminology (Dirincri) and the National Registry of Identification and Civil Status (RENIEC).

The procedure would take one to two months.

Have other topics you'd like to see in our news section? If you or someone you know would like to contribute a news article to Living in Peru, whether it's translated or based on a personal investigation, send it to editor@livinginperu.com.

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

The President of Peru's Ministers Council, Javier Velásquez Quesquén, reported that the Goverment is coordinating, through the Chancellery, the repatriation of Augusto Blacker Miller, former Foreign Minister during Alberto Fujimori's government.

Blacker Miller, currently under US custody, was arrested by members of the International Police (Interpol) in Florida, according to the terms of the international arrest warrant issued against him by the Supreme Court of Peru.

He had fled in contempt of court to avoid attending the trial for the alleged support of the coup of former President Alberto Fujimori in 1992

Velasquez Quesquen told the media that Peru will continue the diplomatic process according to what it is established in the Law, and that Peruvian justice will determine the level of responsibility of the former minister.

Have other topics you'd like to see in our news section? If you or someone you know would like to contribute a news article to Living in Peru, whether it's translated or based on a personal investigation, send it to editor@livinginperu.com.

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

Ronny Ramos Pérez, aka "Bolón", the main suspect of the murder of Paola Vargas more than one week ago, was arrested this afternoon by members of Peru's National Police; he was taken to the Directorate of Criminal Investigation Police.

His attorney, Manuel Frisancho, told El Comercio that he was unaware of the circumstances of the arrest of his client, who refused to attend a police's summon last Friday because he feared he would be arrested.

Ramos Pérez is the prime suspect in the death of Maria Paola Vargas (24), who died on October 24th when she fell down the public transport in which she was traveling along with a group of "hooligans."

Witnesses said that Vargas was pushed to the pavement by “Bolón,” (one of the hooligans) when she was getting ready to leave the vehicle.

A severe blow to the head left her unconscious, and the severe trauma caused  brain injuries that led to her death.

“Bolón” has denied all the allegations against him and says he is innocent.

Have other topics you'd like to see in our news section? If you or someone you know would like to contribute a news article to Living in Peru, whether it's translated or based on a personal investigation, send it to editor@livinginperu.com.

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

An average of 150 women are killed by their partners every year in Peru, because of jealous or due to suspicions of infidelity, and the domestic violence cases have increased too, acording to Peruvian authorities.

Peru's Ministry of Women and Social Development (MIMDES) issued a report stating that the situation is "dramatic" for many women who have chosen to remain silent and do not report acts of violence committed against them.

The report warns that this attitude has caused the murder of 16 women so far in 2009.

However, this figure does not include data from several remote provinces.

The MIMDES' report also says that only 45 women survived this year to attempts of “femicide.” MIMDES strongly encourages all the victims of domestic violence to report these cases to the services provided by Women's Emergency Center (EMC) where they will receive free legal advice, as well as psychological and social counseling.

Have other topics you'd like to see in our news section? If you or someone you know would like to contribute a news article to Living in Peru, whether it's translated or based on a personal investigation, send it to editor@livinginperu.com.

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

Good news for all Peruvian expats: Congress unanimously approved Peru's signing of The Hague Apostille Convention, which will significantly reduce the time, the money spent, and the paperwork needed to legalize documents at Peru's Foreign Relations Ministry's offices.

This international treaty will make it easier to legalize public documents for their use in Peru and abroad as well, eliminating two steps: consular authentication and legalization at Foreign Relations Ministry.

“Under this international treaty (The Hague Apostille), which has been signed by some 90 countries, the paperwork for public documents to be used in another country will be faster, recognizing its authenticity by means of an “apostille” (or seal) put onto the document that will certify it in any of the countries who have signed this treaty,” said congresswoman Gabriela Perez del Solar.

Have other topics you'd like to see in our news section? If you or someone you know would like to contribute a news article to Living in Peru, whether it's translated or based on a personal investigation, send it to editor@livinginperu.com.