Peruvian President Dina Boluarte says she will not resign after police raided her private home and presidential palace in search of luxury watches as part of an investigation into alleged illegal enrichment.
The initial investigation was opened two weeks ago after Peruvian media La Encerrona highlighted Boluarte wearing a Rolex watch worth around US $ 13,000 or around Rp200 million.
While other media said that the president has a collection of luxury watches since becoming vice president in July 2021 and then became president in December 2022.
The night before through Saturday, police and prosecutors conducted searches in connection with the investigation.
“I entered the government palace with clean hands and I will leave it with clean hands in 2026,” Boluarte was quoted as saying by RPP radio in a speech to citizens.
“This president is not hiding behind lobbies or negotiations and anyone peddling this watch story knows this because they know me, because I am not a corruptor or a thief,” Boluarte said.
The president said he would testify at the prosecutor’s office as soon as possible.
Boluarte has previously admitted that he owns at least one Rolex watch, describing it as an old thing bought with money he earned from the age of 18.
The investigation aims to find out whether the luxury watches were purchased legally or intended to enrich themselves illegally.
A separate investigation will be conducted to find out if the president had failed to report possession of the watch.