LIMA, Nov. 13 (Xinhua) -- Peru's ex-President Martin Vizcarra, who was impeached earlier this week, was barred on Friday from leaving the country for 18 months, as prosecutors investigate allegations that he accepted bribes when he was governor of the southern department of Moquegua (2011-2014).
His ban on travel abroad will be in effect until May 12, 2022.
At a hearing on the measure, judge Maria Alvarez defended the decision, saying Vizcarra posed a flight risk because he "has enough income to leave the country."
Vizcarra's lawyer, Fernando Ugaz, questioned the move, noting that immediately after being stripped of office, his client placed his biometric and diplomatic passports at the disposition of the Prosecutor's Office to show his willingness to cooperate with the investigation.
It was a "symbolic" step to make it clear "that we do not want to have an obstructionist attitude or impede" the investigation, said Ugaz.
Vizcarra is accused of accepting 2.3 million soles (about 655,000 U.S. dollars) from two consortiums in exchange for public works contracts in Moquegua, and was impeached by Congress on Monday. Enditem
