Chile's supreme court granted bail of US$3,000 yesterday to
Alberto Fujimori, the former Peruvian president, allowing him to
leave the Military Police School in Chile's capital Santiago, where
he had been since November 7.
Peru is trying to make Fujimori stand trial for human rights
abuses and corruption.
Leaving the school at 3.30 PM local time (1930 GMT) Thursday,
Fujimori told local media that "obviously I am happy ... and I am
leaving the School in the same conditions when I arrived."
The court said that "the defendant's bail is not a danger to
public security or his (alleged) victims, and will not delay
current court proceedings."
Under the bail terms, Fujimori, president from 1990 to 2000,
cannot leave Chile.
The court also refused a May 15 appeal by Fujimori's defense
team.
Prosecutors working for the Peruvian government sent documents
to Santiago in January demanding Fujimori's extradition for 10
crimes, including two human rights violations.
Investigating judge, Orlando Alvarez, set bail at US$3,000, and
Fujimori will now probably begin living in a house rented by his
family in Las Condes.
A Chilean minister, Jaimi Rodriguez Espoz, had argued against
the decision saying that the number and seriousness of Fujimori's
crimes mean that he does represent a threat to society, and Alfredo
Etcheverry, the Chilean lawyer representing Peru, said the decision
was regrettable, adding, "we fear that Fujimori will flee the
country."
Fujimori appeared in Chile on November 6, and was swiftly
arrested, as Peru has listed him as a fugitive from justice since
2000.
He is barred from standing for public office until at least
2011, due to his resignation from the presidency in 2000 after his
government collapsed amid a corruption scandal.
Peru is seeking to try Fujimori on 21 charges, from abuse of
power to allowing death squads to operate, and ordering two
massacres, which have left a total of 25 victims in 1991 and
1992.
(Xinhua News Agency May 19, 2006)
