Peru judge orders graft probe to be redone in reprieve for former president

A Peruvian judge ruled on Monday that an investigation into alleged money laundering involving former President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski needed to be done again, a short-term victory for one of several embattled former presidents of the country.
Prosecutors in early May filed money laundering and criminal organization charges against Kuczynski and asked for 35 years behind bars for the economist and former banker, who took office in July 2016 but resigned in March 2018 amid an investigation into alleged ties to the Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht.
The court’s decision was made after Kuczynski’s lawyers filed an appeal to stop the process, contending that the prosecution’s investigation had affected Kuczynski’s right to defense.
Kuczynski, often known as “PPK” for his initials, has denied any wrongdoing in connection with Odebrecht.