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Peru corruption: Ex-President Alan García denied asylum

Reuters Alan García in March 2018Reuters
Alan García requested asylum from Uruguay but was denied

Uruguay has rejected a request for asylum by Peru's former president, Alan García.

Mr García entered the residence of the Uruguayan ambassador in Lima on 17 November after he was accused of taking bribes from Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht, which he denies.

He has been staying there while Uruguay weighed his request.

Uruguay said there were no grounds for asylum as "the three branches of the state function freely" in Peru.

The announcement was made by Uruguay's President Tabaré Vásquez, who rejected Mr García's argument that he was the victim of political persecution.

The Peruvian foreign minister, Néstor Popolizio, told local media Mr García had left the Uruguayan residence. It is not clear where he currently is.

Reuters A woman and a child walk outside the residence of the Uruguayan ambassador in PeruReuters
Mr García has spent the last few weeks inside the residence of the Uruguayan ambassador

A court banned him from leaving Peru last month.

Mr García served two terms as president, from 1985 to 1990 and from 2006 to 2011. Investigators allege he took kickbacks from Odebrecht during his second term in office.

The allegations are linked to the construction of a metro line in the capital, Lima.

Odebrecht has admitted paying almost $30m (£23.6m) in bribes in Peru since 2004 and is said to be close to reaching a formal plea deal.

Mr García is the latest former Peruvian leader to become embroiled in a corruption scandal.

The four most recent Peruvian presidents are all being investigated for alleged corruption, with a fifth - Alberto Fujimori - having been jailed for corruption and human rights abuses.

  • Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, in office 2016-2018, resigned over a vote-buying scandal, under preliminary investigation for alleged money laundering
  • Ollanta Humala, in office 2011-2016, accused of taking bribes from Odebrecht to bankroll his election campaign, in pre-trial detention in Peru
  • Alan García, in office 2006-2011, suspected of taking kickbacks from Odebrecht, sought asylum in the Uruguayan residence but had his request denied
  • Alejandro Toledo, in office 2001-2006, accused of taking millions of dollars in bribes from Odebrecht, currently a fugitive in the US

The current leader of the opposition, Keiko Fujimori, is also in pre-trial detention on charges of taking $1.2m (£940,000) in bribes from Odebrecht.

According to an opinion poll conducted by pollsters Datum, Peruvians are more fed up than ever with endemic corruption.

In October, 94% said they thought the level of corruption was either high or very high.

President Martín Vizcarra, who took up office after Mr Kuczynski resigned, has said he will make the fight against corruption his priority.

On Sunday, Peruvians will be called to vote in a referendum on five key reforms aimed at cleaning up Peruvian politics.