PERU: Former Peru spy chief secretary Matilde Pinchi Pinchi,, takes stand in Fujimori trial

Record ID: 194715

  • Title: PERU: Former Peru spy chief secretary Matilde Pinchi Pinchi,, takes stand in Fujimori trial
  • Date: 9th May 2014
  • Summary: LIMA, PERU (MAY 09, 2014) (REUTERS) FORMER PERUVIAN PRESIDENT ALBERTO FUJIMORI ARRIVING AT COURT COURT OFFICIAL VICTORIA SANCHEZ ALONGSIDE JUDGES AISSA MENDOZA AND AVIGAIL COLQUICOCHA DURING TRIAL FORMER SECRETARY TO FORMER SPY CHIEF VLADIMIRO MONTESINOS, MATILDE PINCHI PINCHI (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) FORMER SECRETARY TO FORMER SPY CHIEF VLADIMIRO MONTESINOS, MATILDE PINCHI PINCHI SAYING: "(Prosecutor: The accused that is present, the President of the Republic Alberto Fujimori, knew about these "chica" diaries?) Yes, he knew about them because (former spy chief (Vladimiro) Montesinos always gave an account of expenses to Mr Fujimori." FUJIMORI REQUIRING PERMISSION TO LEAVE COURT FOR MEDICAL ATTENTION FUJIMORI LEAVING COURTHOUSE ANTI-CORRUPTION PROSECUTOR CRISTIAN SALAS SPEAKING TO MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) ANTI-CORRUPTION PROSECUTOR CRISTIAN SALAS, SAYING: "What she (Pinchi Pinchi) said was that Vladimiro Montesinos Torres and Alberto Fujimori absolutely coordinated directly, in SIN (National Intelligent Services) offices or in the Government Palace where there was an encrypted telephone." SALAS LEAVING MEDIA BRIEFING
  • Embargoed: 24th May 2014 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Peru
  • Country: Peru
  • Topics: Crime,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA7TAR7RODKGDSAANR5UDM4KJI2
  • Story Text: Drama in a Peru courtroom on Friday (May 09) after Matilde Pinchi Pinchi, the former secretary to former spy chief Vladimiro Montesinos testified that ex president Alberto Fujimori was complicit in buying influence in Peru's tabloid newspapers from national defence funds.
    The 75-year-old former leader returned to a Lima court house where he is facing trial for his alleged involvement in using the tabloid "chicha press" newspapers to publish slander against his political opponents, allegedly using public funds to bribe editors.
    Fujimori has denied the charges, with his defence team arguing he did not control intelligence service accounts and only reviewed results from operations against terrorism and drug trafficking.
    Taking the stand, Pinchi Pinchi told prosecutors Fujimori and former spy chief Vladimiro Montesinos had regular contact over national defence expenses, including funds used to pay off media.
    "(Prosecutor: The accused that is present, the President of the Republic Alberto Fujimori, knew about these "chica" diaries?) Yes, he knew about them because (former spy chief (Vladimiro) Montesinos always gave an account of expenses to Mr Fujimori," she said.
    Shortly after Pinchi Pinchi's testimony, Fujimori requested permission to leave the courtroom.
    Fujimori could face an eight-year extension to his already lengthy prison sentence for diverting funds from the armed forces to the "diarios chicha" newspapers.
    "What she (Pinchi Pinchi) said was that Vladimiro Montesinos Torres and Alberto Fujimori absolutely coordinated directly, in SIN (National Intelligent Services) offices or in the Government Palace where there was an encrypted telephone," said anti-corruption prosecutor, Cristian Salas.
    Peru's former leader, credited with beating back hyperinflation, was sentenced to 25 years in prison for ordering death squads to carry out two massacres when his government was hunting down presumed leftist insurgents.
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