Two singers from Peruvian cumbia orchestra La Bella Luz have given statements to police following a complaint of improper touching filed by singer Naldy Saldaña.
Lawyer Israel Castillo, who represents Saldaña, revealed that he attended the depositions of two vocalists at the San Juan de Lurigancho Department of Criminal Investigation, known as Depincri. Castillo said chat messages in his possession indicate that certain band members were aware of the alleged incident before it became public.
Speaking on the television program Magaly TV, la firme, Castillo explained that the two vocalists provided conflicting accounts when questioned by investigators about their prior knowledge of the case.
According to Castillo, one of the singers denied having any knowledge of the improper touching allegations involving former orchestra director César Sánchez Chavesta before media reports emerged. However, a second vocalist gave a different account when presented with the text of a previous message, ratifying her earlier statement that a person could not remain in the same place as their aggressor.
Police Deposition Details
The depositions form part of an ongoing police inquiry into the management and environment of La Bella Luz. Other vocalists from the group who have been approached by reporters during the probe include Anely Dávila, Fernanda Urbina, Mackeily Luján, and Ariana González.
The case has sparked internal friction. Group member Anely Dávila recently presented evidence to deny claims that she had mocked Saldaña over the allegations. Meanwhile, a legal representative for La Bella Luz collapsed during an inspection conducted by Sunafil, Peru's labor inspection agency, following the initial complaint.
Castillo has also noted that La Bella Luz could potentially face substantial financial penalties from authorities over allegations of a possible cover up involving former director Sánchez Chavesta.
Contradictions and Undisclosed Chats
Television host Magaly Medina commented on the proceedings during her broadcast, describing the divergence between the two band members' accounts as striking. Medina noted that while one witness continued to deny any awareness of the situation, the second witness maintained the claims she had previously written in private messages despite possible advice to do otherwise.
Castillo clarified that the chat logs showing prior knowledge have not yet been handed over to the Public Prosecutor's Office, known as the Ministerio Público. He stated that the legal defense team retains full possession of the digital evidence and will submit the records to prosecutors at the appropriate stage of the investigation.
