秘鲁司法系统因腐败丑闻引发震荡

The head of Peru's National Council of Magistrates, which oversees judges and prosecutors, has resigned amid a corruption scandal that has rocked the country's judicial system.

Judicial chief Duberli Rodriguez announced on Twitter that he was tendering his resignation "due to the institutional crisis."

Two weeks ago, Peruvian media outlets published telephone ecordings involving an extensive network of judges, businessmen and local authorities describing back-room deals.

In one, Justice Minister Salvador Heresi was heard arranging a meeting with supreme Court judge Cesar Hinostroza Pariachi, who seemed to be offering to do favors in return for money.

In another, a judge can be heard asking whether he needs to reduce the sentence or set free a man accused of raping a child.

President Martin Vizcarra fired Heresi last week. Several judges and prosecutors have also been forced to resign since the audiotapes were made ublic.

Vizcarra has promised to be tough on corruption ever since taking office a few months ago.

He replaced former president Pedro Pablo Kuczynski who was forced to resign after audiotapes emerged showing his political allies trying to buy votes in his favor on the eve of an impeachment decision.