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Peru probes if police killed suspects for rewards

Policemen stand during an activist performance protest in Lima, Peru, August 22, 2016. ©Reuters

The Interior Ministry in Peru says there is strong evidence that a group of police officers were behind the extrajudicial killings of at least 20 suspected criminals in an attempt to get promotions and rewards from their superiors.

Deputy Interior Minister Ruben Vargas said nine police officers, including a general, a commander and seven junior officers, are believed to have killed the 20, most of them lacking criminal records, in six different police operations between 2012 and 2015.

The officers under investigation are accused of falsely presenting the victims as dangerous criminals in separate crimes, including kidnappings and robberies, according to the ministry.

“There are serious indications of the existence of an irregular group made up of national police officers and junior officers who, in order to obtain personal benefit, falsified intelligence information to simulate clashes and injured people in at least six cases,” Vargas, who is in charge of public order, said Monday.

He said a national police colonel, who is currently a general, was in charge of the group that had access to “confidential documents” at the Anti-Terrorism Office.

The official did not identify the suspects, but said one of them had been decorated six times for his service.

“Between 2012 and 2014, the commander who was identified obtained six awards for distinguished action. During this same period, he was also promoted for distinguished service from Major to Commander. During the same period, the junior officers in his squad also received awards,” he added.

Media in Peru, which first published the allegations this month, said as many as 90 officers were allegedly involved in the deaths.

The latest developments put more pressure on President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, who has pledged to root out corruption among police forces and adopt tough measures in dealing with criminals.


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