Andrés Hurtado, the popular Peruvian presenter, arrested for corruption and bribery.

Andrés Hurtado, a popular presenter of Peruvian television, was arrested this Thursday as part of an investigation involving alleged crimes of influence peddling and active bribery. The operation was carried out by the Public Prosecutor's Office and the National Police of Peru (PNP), specifically by the Second Supreme Transitional Specialized Prosecutor's Office for Crimes Committed by Public Officials and the Division of Investigations of High Complexity Crimes (Diviac).

The arrest of Hurtado, known in the media as 'Chibolín', took place at a clinic in Lima where the presenter had been hospitalized in recent days. The detention order will last for a period of seven days, during which the Prosecutor's Office is expected to gather more information and testimonies to support the investigation.

This case has taken a significant turn after the announcement of a preliminary investigation against him by the Second Specialized Prosecutor's Office for Money Laundering Crimes last Monday. The inquiry focuses on gathering commercial, financial, and tax information about Hurtado from January 2019 to August 2024, indicating the seriousness of the accusations he faces.

Hurtado's situation became more complicated following a report on the program Cuarto Poder, which revealed his connection as the representative of Demetrio Chávez Peñaherrera, known in the criminal world as 'Vaticano'. This link has raised significant concern and led the Prosecutor's Office to investigate his activities and connections more thoroughly.

Additionally, the investigation has been fueled by a report from the Willax channel, which alleged that Hurtado may have intervened in an illegal gold trafficking case. According to the accusations, he allegedly benefited from a commission of one million dollars in exchange for helping to recover 100 kilograms of gold that had been seized. This information has further heightened alarms regarding his potential involvement in criminal activities.

To make matters worse, the testimony of an alleged collaborator of the Prosecutor's Office has added more pressure on Hurtado. This witness claimed that the manager of the company involved in the recovery of the gold, Iván Siucho, had met with ministers of the current government, which could open a new front of investigation into possible collusion between officials and public figures.

The ministers of Justice and Social Development and Inclusion, Eduardo Arana and Julio Demartini, respectively, have publicly defended themselves. Arana even requested the dismissal of the coordinating prosecutor of the anti-corruption team, Marita Barreto, following the admission of a collaborator linking him to an alleged nationalization process for a member of the Siucho family.

However, the scandal does not stop there. The specialized prosecutor for money laundering, Elizabeth Peralta, has been removed from her position after being accused of receiving illegal commissions related to the gold trafficking case. This situation raises serious doubts about the integrity of the investigations and the possibility that networks of corruption may extend to various levels of government.

Andrés Hurtado, who became famous in his youth as a comedian and has hosted a social aid program for years, now faces a scandal that could ruin his career and reputation. His program, which until recently was characterized by showcasing his luxurious life and philanthropic acts, is now under a cloud of suspicion that could drastically change his image.

The detention of Hurtado and the surrounding accusations serve as a reminder of the corruption problems affecting Peru and the importance of institutions maintaining their independence and strength in cases of this magnitude. As the investigation progresses, the country will be attentive to any developments that may arise, in a context where the fight against corruption remains a hot and vital issue for Peruvian society.