The authorities in Peru detained the brother of the president Dina Bolwarte and her lawyer on charges of trading in influence, the Associated Press reported, quoted by BTA.
This happened after the government of the South American country dissolved the police unit that had been helping prosecutors in the investigation of the close entourage of the head of state.
The court granted the prosecution's request that the two men be held in solitary confinement for 10 days - a legal maneuver that authorities usually reserve for cases they consider very serious.
Boluarte's office has not yet commented on the arrests.
Local television showed footage of the detention of Nicanor Boluarte and Mateo Castaneda. Later, the General Prosecutor's Office confirmed their arrests on social networks.
The president's older brother faces charges of conspiracy and influence peddling for allegedly appointing prefects - local officials who monitor social conflicts in remote areas - in exchange for money and collecting signatures to register the party " Citizens for Peru", notes the Associated Press.
Meanwhile, prosecutors have accused Castaneda of interfering in the investigation into 64-year-old Nicanor Boluarte by offering certain benefits to members of the now-disbanded police unit that handled tax audits.
Before he was arrested, Castaneda was also advising the president on the investigation into her use of luxury watches and jewelry, which she did not list on the mandatory asset declaration form.
The arrests mark the latest step in mounting pressure on Bolhuarte, who was elected president of Peru in December 2022. She replaced then-president Pedro Castillo. He was removed after a parliamentary vote and is currently in prison pending an investigation into him for alleged corruption and inciting rebellion.