The Peruvian judiciary announced on Thursday an extension of the pre-trial detention for former President Pedro Castillo by an additional 18 months.

The Permanent Criminal Chamber of the Supreme Court granted the public prosecutor’s request for the extension, and the decision reversed an earlier ruling that had extended the former president’s detention by 14 months. Supreme Judge César San Martín cited the risk of flight, the proportionality of the severity of the charges and the complexity of the case as justifications for the recent decision. The prosecution had argued that Castillo’s attempt to seek asylum at the Mexican embassy in Peru on December 7, 2022, demonstrated his intent to evade justice.

The tribunal further justified its decision by “inferring the persistence of the flight risk, especially since the process has a long way to go for its completion within a reasonable time frame,” thus finding it appropriate to prolong the pre-trial detention.

Castillo’s lawyer William Paco Castillo voiced opposition to the extension, arguing that it aims to victimize the former president amidst a complex political context. He indicated plans to submit another request to annul the decision.

The decision marks the second time Castillo’s pre-trial detention has been extended. On June 10, the Supreme Court of Preliminary Investigation extended Castillo’s detention from 14 to 18 months at the request of the public prosecutor.

Castillo is under investigation for charges of rebellion, specifically linked to his attempted self-coup on December 7, 2022. After Castillo was ousted from office for allegedly perpetrating the coup and seeking to dissolve the Peruvian Congress, the public prosecutor’s office requested 34 years in prison against him.