Peruvian police arrested José Edilberto Samamé Blas, a manager at the National Office of Electoral Processes (ONPE), following severe logistical failures during the presidential elections held last Sunday.
Authorities detained Samamé Blas for the alleged crime of omission, refusal, or delay of official duties. The arrest follows reports of widespread shortages of ballot boxes and voting papers across several districts.
According to the news outlet RPP, the police action was carried out "in strict compliance with the law, as part of the fight against corruption."
Voting disruptions in southern Lima
The logistical breakdown hit southern Lima particularly hard. In several polling stations, the total absence of tally sheets, voter registries, and ballots forced officials to suspend voting at multiple schools.
Authorities rescheduled the voting process for Monday, April 13, to address the lack of materials. The delay caused significant frustration among citizens who had arrived at polling centers to cast their ballots.
Thousands of voters reported excessive wait times due to the failure of electoral materials to arrive at their designated locations. The shortage prevented a significant number of polling stations from opening on time.
These disruptions led to protests outside educational institutions and caused some poll workers to be detained during the chaos. The shortage of materials directly impacted the voting rights of thousands of citizens.
Samamé Blas had recently resigned from his position prior to the arrest. The ONPE has stated it will pursue legal action against Servicios Generales Galaga, the third-party company responsible for the distribution of the electoral materials.