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Peruvian Judge Issues International Arrest for Fujimori
Peruvian judge Jose L. Lecaros issued an international arrest warrant Thursday for disgraced President Alberto Fujimori, self-exiled in Japan since November, for failing to show up to testify in court responding to charges of dereliction of duty.
Fujimori, 62, fled to Japan last November and resigned after a political crisis occurred when a corruption network, including arrested presidential advisor Vladimiro Montesinos, was discovered.
His resignation was not accepted by Congress, which instead sacked him for "dereliction of duty." Now he is declared as " absent defendant" by judge Lecaros.
Lecaros said judicial authorities had proceeded to request Fujimori's extradition, and judicial sources said the arrest order had been presented to Peruvian police and Interpol.
President Alejandro Toledo, who took office on July 28, has pledged to haul Fujimori home to face the court.
Fujimori is suspected of being involved in the corruption network, but currently there is no evidence for an indictment.
The Japanese government has said it recognized Alberto Fujimori as a Japanese national, and that as a rule it does not extradite its nationals.
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