Peru Candidate Roberto Sanchez Charged With Financial Crimes Ahead of Runoff

Roberto Sanchez, a presidential candidate in Peru, has been charged with financial crimes, with prosecutors requesting a prison sentence of five years and four months, according to Al Jazeera and Reuters. The charges were unsealed on May 12, 2026, hours after electoral authorities confirmed he was on track to advance to the country's June 7 presidential runoff.

The Details

According to Al Jazeera, which cited reporting by El Comercio, prosecutors allege that Sanchez, who is running with the Juntos por el Peru party, filed false financial disclosures tied to campaign contributions between 2018 and 2020. The allegations cover a two-year period in which prosecutors say the party's financial filings did not accurately reflect the funds received.

Prosecutors say Sanchez and his brother William received more than 280,000 soles in contributions and membership fees that were not disclosed in party filings, according to Al Jazeera's summary of El Comercio's reporting. The undisclosed amount represents a gap in the party's declared financial records for the 2018 to 2020 period.

The charges were made public on May 12, shortly after electoral authorities confirmed Sanchez's position in the presidential race. With 99.76 percent of ballots counted, Sanchez had secured 12 percent of the vote and was narrowly ahead of Rafael Lopez Aliaga for the second runoff spot, while Keiko Fujimori led the field, according to Al Jazeera and Reuters.

A judge is expected to decide on May 27 whether the case will proceed to trial, Al Jazeera and Reuters reported. That procedural step will occur less than two weeks before the scheduled runoff.

Sanchez's lawyer rejected the accusations in comments to RPP, as quoted by Al Jazeera, stating that the party's treasurer, not Sanchez, was responsible for its financial filings.

Context

The runoff is scheduled for June 7 after a chaotic first-round count in Peru's election, according to Al Jazeera and Reuters. Sanchez is running with backing from jailed former President Pedro Castillo, the outlets reported.

What's Next

A judge is scheduled to decide on May 27 whether the case against Sanchez will proceed to trial. The presidential runoff is set for June 7.