Peru courts extend pretrial detention for former president Castillo

Peru's President Pedro Castillo delivers a statement to the media along with Chile's President Gabriel Boric at the La Moneda government palace in Santiago, Chile, November 29, 2022. REUTERS/Ivan Alvarado/ File Photo

LIMA (Reuters) - Peru's Justice Department said on Monday it has extended by 14 months the pretrial detention of jailed former President Pedro Castillo, who is charged with rebellion, abuse of authority and disrupting the peace.

Castillo was ousted from office and arrested after his attempt to dissolve Congress in late 2022, setting off months of deadly protests that hit the key mining sector in the copper-rich country.

(Reporting by Marco Aquino; editing by Jonathan Oatis)