Peruvian anti-corruption prosecutors have carried out urgent inspections at the Ministry of Culture and the National Library of Peru in Lima to investigate the hiring of former politician Lourdes Morales Morote and her daughter Sofía Aguayo Morales.
The operation was conducted by the First Dispatch of the Second Specialized Prosecutor's Office in Corruption of Officials. Provincial deputy prosecutor Jhannice Bastidas Arroyo led the team to gather administrative documentation and determine whether the contract awards involve criminal offenses.
The prosecutorial action follows a media report revealing that the Ministry of Culture hired the mother and daughter, who are both former members of the Christian People's Party.
Appointments and contract payments
According to the media report, the National Library of Peru appointed Sofía Aguayo Morales as its general manager with a monthly salary of 15,600 soles. The appointment was formalised on August 8, just three days after she visited the minister's office.
Aguayo Morales stepped down from her previous role as deputy director at the Urban Transport Authority to accept the position. The news report added that she is also being investigated for alleged passive improper bribery and incompatible negotiation.
Her mother, Lourdes Beatriz Morales Morote, secured a service order worth 32,500 soles covering 145 days of work in Beingolea's office. Her responsibilities included assisting with meeting logistics and managing the ministerial schedule.
Background and legal review
The Ministry of Culture is the executive department responsible for protecting Peru's cultural heritage and promoting national arts policy, while the National Library of Peru serves as the country's repository of historical records and published literature. The Urban Transport Authority regulates public transit across Lima, and the Christian People's Party is a centre-right political party in Peru.
Prosecutor Bastidas Arroyo and her team are reviewing the seized documentation to decide whether the evidence supports formal criminal proceedings.
