• Live
    • Audio Only
  • google plus
  • facebook
  • twitter
News > Latin America

Peru Ex-President Fujimori Rushed to Hospital From Jail

  • Fujimori is currently serving a 25-year prison sentence for human rights crimes and corruption.

    Fujimori is currently serving a 25-year prison sentence for human rights crimes and corruption. | Photo: Reuters FILE

Published 24 December 2017
Opinion

Opposition politicians allege that President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski promised Fujimori's supporters he would free the former president in exchange for their backing.

Imprisoned Peruvian Ex-President Alberto Fujimori fell ill and was taken to a local hospital late Saturday.

RELATED: 
Peru to Decide President's Fate in Corruption Scandal

The 79-year-old was rushed away by ambulance after it was revealed he was experiencing an abnormal heart rhythm and severe drop in blood pressure.

Cardiologists recommended that he be removed from prison immediately, congressman Alejandro Aguinaga said: "It looks complicated."

Fujimori has been plagued with multiple health challenges resulting in him being in and out of hospital multiple times in recent years.

In 2009, he was sentenced to 25 years for corruption and human-rights abuses committed during his presidency, including authorizing killings carried out by death squads.

Last month, Peruvian President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski said he was "reviewing the procedures" to potentially grant a pardon to Fujimori.

In Peru, Fujimori is either shunned as a corrupt dictator or lauded for ending an economic crisis during his 1990-2000 term.

Supporters of Fujimori reportedly helped Kuczynski avoid being impeached on corruption charges just days ago.

Opposition politicians allege that the president had promised supporters he would free Fujimori in exchange for their backing, a claim the president and Fujimori's supporters both deny.

Fujimori's daughter, Keiko Fujimori, has come under fire after Marcelo Odebrecht, former CEO of the Brazilian construction company at the heart of a sprawling bribery scandal, admitted the firm funded her campaign. 

However, she maintains she was never in contact with the official and didn't receive money for either of her two presidential runs, in 2011 and 2016.

Comment
0
Comments
Post with no comments.