Peru's Fujimori says unaware of spy chief's wrongdoings

0 Comments | AFP, December, 2007

LIMA, Peru (AFP) — Peru's former president Alberto Fujimori, on trial for murder and other alleged rights violations during his 1990-2000 rule, said Friday he was unaware of the wrongdoings carried out by his right-hand man and spymaster Vladimiro Montesinos.

"Mr Montesinos had an extensive network (of corruption)," Fujimori said. But "I was totally unaware of his criminal activities."

The testimony, given on the third day of proceedings against the 69-year-old ex-leader, furthered Fujimori's argument that he was kept in the dark about the dealings of Montesinos, who has been convicted of graft and faces a raft of other charges.

That is important to his defense, as he battles accusations that he knew of or gave orders to a death squad that killed 25 people...