Peru's Fujimori Denies Press Corruption Charges
Former Peruvian president Alberto Fujimori on Thursday rejected charges that he funneled public money to tabloids who subsequently slammed opponents during his time in power.
Fujimori is serving a 25-year sentence after being convicted in 2009 of human rights violations during his 1990 to 2000 tenure.
Prosecutors are seeking another eight years for the alleged diversion of some $40 million of the military's budget to tabloids supporting his 2000 re-election campaign.
"I am an honest person! I do not accept the prosecution's case and I will prove my complete innocence," Fujimori told presiding Judge Aissa Mendoza in his first comments since the trial opened October 17.
"The prosecutor has slandered me by saying that I have plundered state resources," added the 75-year-old. "That is totally false and I'll prove it."
"If the commanding generals of the army, navy and air force made bad use of the money, I cannot be blamed," he added.
In the coming weeks, Fujimori's convicted secret police chief Vladimiro Montesinos is expected to testify as a witness at the prosecution's request.
The televised proceedings were suspended after 90 minutes and are expected to resume next Thursday.
Source: Agence France Presse
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