JAPAN: SECOND REQUEST FOR THE EXTRADITION OF FORMER PRESIDENT ALBERTO FUJIMORI ON CORRUPTION CHARGES

Record ID: 442988

  • Title: JAPAN: SECOND REQUEST FOR THE EXTRADITION OF FORMER PRESIDENT ALBERTO FUJIMORI ON CORRUPTION CHARGES
  • Date: 16th October 2004
  • Summary: (U3)TOKYO, JAPAN (OCTOBER 16, 2004)(REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. SLV EXTERIOR OF PERUVIAN EMBASSY 0.04 2. CLOSE OF FLAG 0.10 3. WIDE OF PERUVIAN AMBASSADOR LUIS MACCHIAVELLO ADDRESSING REPORTERS 0.17 4. SCU (SOUNDBITE)(English) MACCHIAVELLO SAYING: "Regarding the second extradition request, it is based in the trial being brought against by the Supreme Court of Justice of Peru against President Fujimori for the alleged crimes of embezzlement and forgery in grievance of the Peruvian State, and for which the other defendants are already standing trial. This request is filed on the basis of the reciprocity principle and inspired by the precepts of the United Nations Convention against Corruption, signed by both parties" 0.53 5. SMV MEDIA 0.57 6. VARIOUS OF NEWS CONFERENCE 1.06 7. SCU (SOUNDBITE)(English) MACCHIAVELLO SAYING: "The Government of Peru considers that by submitting this document containing the required answers, it has complied with all the requirements demanded by Japan, renewing confidence that the extradition of Mr. Fujimori will be granted" 1.22 8. WIDE OF NEWS CONFERENCE 1.25 (U3) TOKYO, JAPAN (FILE) (REUTERS-ACCESS ALL) 9. SLV PERUVIAN PRESIDENT ALBERTO FUJIMORI SURROUNDED BY POLICE AND STUDENTS, WAVING AND GETTING INTO CAR 1.45 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 31st October 2004 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: TOKYO,JAPAN
  • Country: Japan
  • Reuters ID: LVA36X6RER2HB3TRGMCQ73SWU5T5
  • Story Text: Peru submits a second request to Japan to extradite
    former President Alberto Fujimori.



    Peru on Friday (October 15) submitted a second
    request to Japan to extradite former President Alberto
    Fujimori to face corruption charges.

    Peru's ambassador in Japan, Luis Macchiavello,
    submitted the new extradition request along with answers to
    questions from Japan related to a previous request filed in
    July 2003.

    "Regarding the second extradition request, it is based
    in the trial being brought against by the Supreme Court of
    Justice of Peru against President Fujimori for the alleged
    crimes of embezzlement and forgery in grievance of the
    Peruvian State, and for which the other defendants are
    already standing trial. This request is filed on the basis
    of the reciprocity principle and inspired by the precepts
    of the United Nations Convention against Corruption, signed
    by both parties," Macchiavello told reporters on Saturday
    (October 16).

    Peruvian President Alejandro Toledo sought to put
    pressure on Japan last month when he told the U.N. General
    Assembly that Tokyo should extradite Fujimori, who fled to
    Japan in November 2000 amid a corruption scandal.

    "The Government of Peru considers that by submitting
    this document containing the required answers, it has
    complied with all the requirements demanded by Japan,
    renewing confidence that
    the extradition of Mr. Fujimori will be granted,"
    Macchiavello said.

    Jailed former Peruvian spy chief Montesinos was the
    right-hand man for Fujimori, who ruled Peru from 1990-2000.

    In the first request, Peru asked Japan to hand over
    Fujimori to face criminal charges including murder and
    kidnapping. Japan in principle does not extradite Japanese
    nationals, as in the case of Fujimori who has both Japanese
    and Peruvian nationality, unless there are explicit
    international agreements such as a bilateral extradition
    treaty.

    Japan has no extradition treaty with Peru.

    Fujimori is accused of being responsible for torture
    and executions of suspected rebels during his government's
    hard-line rule. Among the charges are that he authorised
    two massacres of suspected rebel collaborators.

    Fujimori, who denies the charges and says he is a
    victim of political persecution, is considered a Japanese
    citizen because his parents registered him with consular
    authorities as an infant.

    Fujimori has enjoyed celebrity status in Japan, where
    he is remembered by some for his successful handling of a
    126-day hostage-taking crisis at the Japanese ambassador's
    residence in Lima.

    He also has friends in high places, counting Tokyo's
    populist governor, Shintaro Ishihara, among his close
    associates.

    In a message broadcast on a Peruvian radio station last
    month, Fujimori slammed Toledo's public call before the
    United Nations as a stunt that "clearly shows how desperate
    he is."
    He said the real reason behind the extradition call was
    a fear that he would make a political comeback.


    os/

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