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Ex-Peruviian president arrested in Chile
(AP)
Updated: 2005-11-07 20:48
Former Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori was arrested
early Monday, hours after he defied an international arrest warrant and flew
from Japan to Chile, police said.
In this photo released by Fujimori's press
service, Peru's fugitive former President Alberto Fujimori is seen waving
as he left Japan boarding a private jet to Chile on Sunday, Nov. 6, 2005,
saying he intends to return to Peru to again seek the presidency. Although
a warrant for the arrest of Fujimori has been issued to Interpol for some
time, the Chilean government said he cannot be arrested without an order
from a Chilean judge. [AP] | Shortly after Fujimori's presence in Chile was confirmed Sunday, the Peruvian
government asked Santiago to arrest him while a request for his extradition was
filed.
Police arrested the 67-year-old at his hotel early Monday.
Local media said lawyers for the former Peruvian leader were already
appealing the arrest, which had been requested by the Peruvian government as a
first step to seek his extradition.
Fujimori, who fled Peru in 2000 amid a growing scandal affecting his
decade-long regime, faces 21 charges in Peru stemming from alleged corruption
and his alleged support of a paramilitary death squad.
He resigned the presidency in a fax sent from Tokyo.
Fujimori arrived in Chile with four people. One of them, Luis Silva, said
before the arrest that the former president was planning to hold a news
conference here to explain his plans.
Silva gave reporters a brief communique on behalf of
Fujimori that said: "It is my purpose to remain temporarily in Chile, as part of
the process for my return to Peru" to run for president in the election set for
April, 2006.
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