FUJIMORI SENTENCED TO 7.5 YEARS FOR EMBEZZLEMENT

C O N F I D E N T I A L LIMA 001053 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/21/2019 TAGS: KJUS PGOV PHUM PE SUBJECT: FUJIMORI SENTENCED TO 7.5 YEARS FOR EMBEZZLEMENT REF: LIMA 517 Classified By: Amb. P. Michael McKinley for reasons 1.4(b) and (... id: 217720 date: 7/22/2009 16:32 refid: 09LIMA1053 origin: Embassy Lima classification: CONFIDENTIAL destination: 09LIMA517 header: VZCZCXYZ0000 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHPE #1053 2031632 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 221632Z JUL 09 FM AMEMBASSY LIMA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0916 INFO RUEHAC/AMEMBASSY ASUNCION 2504 RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA 6723 RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 8443 RUEHBU/AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES 4005 RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 1452 RUEHLP/AMEMBASSY LA PAZ JUL MONTEVIDEO 9786 RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO 2683 RUEHSG/AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO 2522 RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC RUMIAAA/USCINCSO MIAMI FL -------------- header ends -------------- C O N F I D E N T I A L LIMA 001053 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/21/2019 TAGS: KJUS PGOV PHUM PE SUBJECT: FUJIMORI SENTENCED TO 7.5 YEARS FOR EMBEZZLEMENT REF: LIMA 517 Classified By: Amb. P. Michael McKinley for reasons 1.4(b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Summary. Former president Alberto Fujimori was sentenced on July 20 to seven years and six months for embezzlement charges, in connection with a $15 million "severance" payment to then-intelligence chief Vladimiro Montesinos. Fujimori admitted guilt on the first day of the trial in order, say observers, to ensure a brief trial with no witnesses. While prosecutors argued that Fujimori's payment was meant to silence Montesinos about internal corruption, Fujimori claimed he paid off Montesinos to avert a coup. Prosecutors indicated they would open an additional corruption investigation based on Fujimori's re-payment of the $15 million. End summary. ¶2. (C) Former president Alberto Fujimori was sentenced on July 20 to seven years and six months for embezzlement charges, for improperly paying then-intelligence chief Vladimiro Montesinos $15 million in alleged severance pay. His sentence also calls for nearly $1 million in reparations. This is Fujimori's third conviction. In Peru, sentences are served concurrently, so 25 years (from April's human rights conviction - see reftel) is the maximum time Fujimori would serve. ¶3. (C) Fujimori admitted guilt almost immediately during the first of only four sessions, thereby ensuring a brief trial. Most observers say this was a strategic move to avoid a lengthy trial and prevent witnesses from testifying, which could have revealed evidence of additional corruption and damaged daughter Keiko Fujimori's 2011 presidential bid. ¶4. (C) While prosecutors argued that Fujimori's payment (made in September 2000 just after the leak of videos implicating Montesinos in a vast web of corruption) was meant to ensure Montesinos would not accuse other government officials of corruption, Fujimori claimed he paid Montesinos off under "unusual and extraordinary" circumstances in order to avert a coup and save the country. He also argued that no crime was committed because he repaid $15 million to the state after 41 days, and the Peruvian people and state were not affected by the temporary loss. ¶5. (C) Fujimori's next trial will begin in September on three additional corruption charges. Observers expect Fujimori to be convicted on all counts. Prosecutors announced plans to open an additional corruption investigation into the allegedly illegal origin of the $15 million Fujimori repaid to the government after the Montesinos payoff in 2000. MCKINLEY =======================CABLE ENDS============================