Peru OCEX London: Report Reveals Alleged Wasteful Spending

A recent audit has revealed allegations of misused public funds within the Peruvian Trade Office in London (OCEX), prompting investigations into the conduct of Ricardo Romero Talledo, the recently reassigned Commercial Counselor.

The allegations, initially filed with the Peruvian General Comptroller’s Office on February 4, 2025, center on claims that Romero Talledo used funds allocated to PromPerú for personal expenses, according to a report accessed by Turiweb. Ronnie Farfán Sousa, a former OCEX employee, submitted the complaint under Peru’s whistleblower protection law (Ley 29542).

The complaint details specific instances of alleged impropriety, including a £873 expenditure (approximately S/ 4,030.14) for attendance at a concert at the Royal Albert Hall. Farfán Sousa alleges this cost, encompassing both tickets and refreshments, was falsely categorized as “attention to British investors” and “room rental.” Further accusations involve payments totaling £7,356 (approximately S/ 33,958.40) for memberships at exclusive London clubs – 5 Hertford Street, the Royal Automobile Club, and IN&OUT – which Farfán Sousa claims were unrelated to official duties.

Supporting documentation attached to the complaint includes invoices, email correspondence, WhatsApp messages, and witness statements. The allegations extend beyond the concert and club memberships, suggesting a pattern of misrepresentation of expenses under categories such as “official attention,” “subscriptions,” and “office supplies.”

Ricardo Romero Talledo was officially assigned to the OCEX in London by a decree published in the official Peruvian gazette, El Peruano. However, he has as well been separately accused of sexual harassment by a former OCEX employee, according to reports.

The OCEX, as noted by the Spanish Court of Auditors (Tribunal de Cuentas), has a role in overseeing the administration of regional governments and local entities within its jurisdiction, though the Court of Accounts retains overall fiscal oversight at the national, regional, and local levels.

As of February 16, 2026, neither PromPerú nor the Peruvian General Comptroller’s Office have publicly commented on the status of the investigation.