PERU-POLITICS/BELAUNDE Bolivia captures Martin Belaunde, fugitive former adviser to Peruvian president

Record ID: 149619

  • Title: PERU-POLITICS/BELAUNDE Bolivia captures Martin Belaunde, fugitive former adviser to Peruvian president
  • Date: 28th May 2015
  • Summary: LA PAZ, BOLIVIA (MAY 28, 2015) (REUTERS) ****WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** VARIOUS OF EXTERIOR OF HOUSE OF GOVERNMENT DEFENCE MINISTERS REYMI FERREIRA AND GOVERNMENT MINISTER CARLOS ROMERO ENTERING NEWS CONFERENCE BOLIVIAN FLAG (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) CARLOS ROMERO, GOVERNMENT MINISTER, SAYING: "I confirm that because of a police operation in the city of Magdalena, i
  • Embargoed: 12th June 2015 13:00
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  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA9TX5Y26CAA9405ZOJ95SSUZI5
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Bolivian authorities on Thursday (May 28) captured a former adviser to Peruvian President Ollanta Humala who had escaped house arrest before his pending extradition to Peru to face corruption charges.
    Police found Martin Belaunde, Humala's campaign adviser in his failed 2006 presidential bid, in northern Bolivia, according to officials.
    "I confirm that because of a police operation in the city of Magdalena, in the province of Itenez, in the department of Beni, at approximately 4 in the afternoon, we were able to apprehend the Peruvian citizen Martin Belaunde Lossio," said Government Minister Carlos Romero.
    Earlier on Thursday Peru offered a $200,000 reward for any information leading to Belaunde's capture.
    Romero said La Paz expects to hand Belaunde over to Peru to face charges.
    "Our state has fulfilled its responsibility and there will be a transfer of this citizen to the city of La Paz in order to later administer the corresponding legal proceedings so that this Peruvian national assumes his responsibility before the justice system regarding the accusations against him in our brother nation of Peru," he said.
    Belaunde's disappearance early on Sunday (May 24) prompted Bolivian President Evo Morales to replace his interior minister and police chief this week.
    In Peru, opposition lawmakers suggested Humala's government had helped him flee.
    Belaunde told Peruvian TV channel Canal N by telephone on Tuesday that he had been kidnapped and escaped his captors by throwing himself from their car, a version authorities in Bolivia and Peru dismissed.
    Belaunde told Reuters earlier this month that he feared he would be killed if forced to return to Lima.
    Peruvian prosecutors have charged Belaunde with graft and unlawful association. They say he belongs to a criminal network with links to public officials.
    Belaunde has denied the accusations and says he is a victim of political persecution for being a socialist.
    The Belaunde scandal has eroded Humala's popularity ahead of presidential elections next year and broadened the perception that government officials are corrupt.
    Humala has repeatedly denied knowing about Belaunde's purported criminal activities. He said Belaunde was an important adviser during his 2006 campaign and helped with some party activities in 2011 elections.
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