Photo : Collected
Peruvian President Dina Boluarte has said she will not resign after police raided her private home and the government palace in search of luxury watches as part of an inquiry into possible illicit enrichment.
The preliminary probe was opened two weeks ago after Peruvian news outlet La Encerrona spotlighted Boluarte wearing a Rolex valued at about $13,000, while other media said that she owned a collection of luxury watches since becoming vice president in July 2021 and then president in December 2022. Overnight into Saturday (30 March), police and prosecutors conducted raids in connection with the investigation.
"I entered the government palace with clean hands and I will leave it with clean hands in 2026. This president is not hiding behind lobbies or negotiations and whoever peddled this watch story knows this because they know me, because I am not corrupt or a thief," Boluarte was quoted.
The president stressed that she would testify at the prosecutor's office as soon as possible.
Boluarte previously acknowledged that she owns at least one Rolex, describing it as an old item bought with money she earned since the age of 18.
The inquiry seeks to establish whether the luxury watch was purchased legally or pointed to illicit enrichment. A separate probe will look into whether the president had failed to properly declare ownership of the watch.
Messenger/Mumu
