Former Peru’s President Released From Jail After 16 Years
Former Peruvian President, Alberto Fujimori, who was serving a 25-year prison term for human rights abuses during his decade-long rule in the 1990s, has been released from jail
The release of the 85 years old, which was on Wednesday, came despite criticism from the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACHR) who had earlier requested the move be blocked.
Peru’s highest court on Tuesday, ruled in favour of an appeal to restore a 2017 pardon for Fujimori, on humanitarian grounds.
Fujimori served 16 years after being extradited from Chile in 2007.
The former president, whose doctors say has serious health issues, was filmed on Wednesday leaving the prison wearing a breathing tube and a mask. His children hugged him before he got into a car, which took him to the home of his eldest daughter and political heiress Keiko.
“Today we finally have our father home,” Keiko said through a megaphone at the door of her home, where her father is now expected to reside. “There is no hatred or resentment in my heart, but gratitude.”
“It was time for this injustice against Fujimori to end, thanks to him our country is on its feet,” Catalina Ponce, a Fujimori supporter waiting outside the prison, said earlier in the day.
