President of Peru slams raids in luxury watch investigation

Lima: Peruvian President Dina Boluarte slammed raids on her home and office Saturday after authorities carried out overnight searches in a corruption...

Lima: Peruvian President Dina Boluarte slammed raids on her home and office Saturday after authorities carried out overnight searches in a corruption probe centered on Rolex watches she has been wearing publicly.

Television footage showed agents with a metal bar breaking down the door of Boluarte's home in a dramatic twist to a case that erupted several weeks ago amid questions over whether she has enriched herself illegally while serving in the government.

The very unpopular Boluarte, in power since December 2022, has not explained how she got the watches, saying only that were the fruit of hard work. "The measure taken early this morning is arbitrary, disproportionate and abusive," a defiant Boluarte, who was at the presidential palace as agents raided her home, said in an address to the nation.

A lawyer for Boluarte said police found watches in her office at the government palace.

"They did not take them away. They were noted and photographed. There were around 10, and among them were some nice ones but I cannot say if they were Rolex," attorney Mateo Castaneda told radio station RPP.