Judge Juan Varillas Solano Stays on Bench Amid Eight Criminal Probes

Judge Juan Gustavo Varillas Solano continues to sit on Lima’s Seventh Civil Court, Commercial Sub‑specialty, despite eight criminal investigations opened by Peru’s Public Prosecutor’s Office. The probes allege prevarication, bribery, money‑laundering and influence‑trafficking, and cite leaked “Cuellos Blancos” audio in which fugitive former judge César Hinostroza allegedly asked Varillas to favor a lawyer friend. Although he was suspended for six months in 2024, the suspension was lifted and he resumed issuing rulings that affect health‑infrastructure projects worth hundreds of millions of soles.

In a separate matter, Varillas resolved a complex commercial dispute involving the Grupo El Comercio in just three and a half days in July 2026, prompting criticism over the speed and depth of his review. The rapid decision granted a precautionary measure favoring shareholders and raised calls for the National Board of Justice and the Judicial Control Authority to audit his case‑handling practices.