Authorities at a northern Peru prison are removed after a prisoner’s escape

Lima.- The director and deputy director of the Piura prison, in northern Peru, were dismissed this Sunday after the escape of an inmate processed for the crime of extortion was confirmed, the National Penitentiary Institute (INPE) reported this Sunday.

“The president of INPE has ordered the immediate removal of the director and deputy director of the Piura Penitentiary Establishment,” stated the state agency in a statement. The message added that the Office of Internal Affairs has also been ordered to conduct “administrative inquiries” to “determine the corresponding responsibilities”. According to official information, prison staff reported during the morning of this Sunday “the absence” of a prisoner identified as Krisman Nizama Ponce, 31 years old. The man was prosecuted for the crime of extortion and remained “under psychiatric treatment,” the note detailed. “Security protocols were immediately activated and an exhaustive search was initiated both inside the prison and in the surrounding areas,” added the agency before indicating that, together with the Public Prosecutor’s Office and the National Police of Peru (PNP), actions are being carried out to capture the fugitive and carry out the investigations of the case. Last Friday, the INPE also removed the director and deputy director of the Huaral prison, in the north of the Lima region, from their positions, after the escape of a prisoner identified as Dylan Jiménez Pérez, 24 years old and of Venezuelan nationality, who was being prosecuted for the crime of aggravated robbery, was confirmed.

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At that moment, the Minister of Justice and Human Rights, Walter Martínez, declared to the RPP radio station that all INPE officials are under constant evaluation and “the corresponding decisions will be made in that case”. “As I say, that bad official, that official who is corrupt, that official who does not do his job, will be removed,” emphasized Martinez. The escapes of these prisoners occur amidst a noticeable increase in organized crime in Peru, with numerous cases of extortion and contract killing (murder for hire), mainly against transporters and entrepreneurs. Faced with citizen protests demanding effective measures from the Government and Congress, the Legislative power last week removed President Dina Boluarte for a “permanent moral incapacity” to confront criminality. Following that decision, right-wing legislator José Jerí, who presided over Congress, assumed the head of state by constitutional succession, although discontent and citizen protests against the authorities have continued in recent days. Last Wednesday, a massive demonstration took place in Lima, leaving one citizen dead and dozens injured, mostly police officers. INPE also confirmed in the last few hours that the new director of the Chincha prison, in southern Lima, has received “threats against his physical integrity and that of his family” and that last Friday unknown individuals left two explosives outside the ‘Miguel Castro Castro’ prison, in Lima, along with a manuscript with threats to two magistrates of the Judiciary.