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Peru ex-president Fujimori sentenced to 7 1/2 years on corruption charges

By Bernard Hibbitts (editor) and University of Pittsburgh School of Law students.

[JURIST] The Criminal Chamber of Peru's Supreme Court on Monday convicted former Peruvian president Alberto Fujimori on corruption charges and sentenced him to seven-and-a-half years in prison. Fujimori was accused of paying former Peruvian Intelligence Director Vladimiro Montesino $15 million to resign in 2000 in the midst of the scandal that ultimately resulted in Fujimori's arrest in 2005. Fujimori claimed that he made the payment because he feared Montesino was plotting a coup against the government. When his trial opened last week, Fujimori admitted to making the payment but denied any criminal responsibility. Fujimori was also ordered to pay nearly USD $1 million in damages. Lawyers for Fujimori plan to appeal the ruling.Fujimori was convicted in April of committing human rights abuses for approving multiple killings during his 1990-2000 presidency. The conviction and subsequent sentencing, which put Fujimori in prison for 25 years, was met with widespread approval from the current government and human rights organization, despite Fujimori's planned appeal. In 2007, Fujimori was convicted of ordering a warrantless search in 2000 on the apartment of Montesino's wife. Prosecutors alleged that the search was intended to uncover and confiscate documents that might incriminate Fujimori. Similar to the present charges, Fujimori admitted to the facts, but denied any wrongdoing.

Full post as published by JURIST - The Paper Chase on July 20, 2009 (boomark / email).