Living in Peru : your everyday companion

Living in Peru
Israel J. Ruiz

The University of Lima, one of Peru's leading private universities, has suspended and is evaluating the possibility of expelling two students that were caught extorting a Limean businessman.

21-year-old Renee Manyari Ojeda and 22-year-old Clarisa Ojeda León were suspended from the university after they were arrested for extorting Juan Lei Sincho.

After a meeting among university representatives, it was decided that the two women, who study Science Communication, would be suspended.

It was reported that in several days the university would announce if the two girls, who are cousins, would be expelled.

Manyari and Clarisa were arrested at a Starbucks in the seaside district of Miraflores after having withdrawn 11,000 soles, money they had extorted from Juan Lei Sincho.

The two women threatened they would hurt Lie's children if he did not comply with their demands. Recordings of the conversations the women had with Lei were released by local news.

The women knew Lei had several houses - one on the beach and even his company's gross sales.

In one conversation, they suggested he mortgage his house, sell his beach house and Mercedes. They stated they would accept $10,000 as a temporary guarantee.

Even though the cousins were caught with the money in their possession and have admitted to the crime, they were released by a judge upon the condition they report to a judicial officer once a month.