Peru’s ex-spy chief Montesinos receives another 5-year prison sentence

The 5th Penal Court of the Superior Court of Justice in Lima (CSJL) sentenced Vladimiro Montesinos, ex-intelligence chief and adviser of former president Alberto Fujimori, to five years in prison, after he was found guilty of abuse of power and influence peddling.

The Supreme Court presided by the justice Victor Prado Saldarriaga also sentenced him to pay S/. 600,000 nuevo soles (US$ 190,000) in damages to the State.

In this case, the conviction relates to the so-called Hayduk case involving one of Peru’s biggest fishing companies whose shareholders were charged with drug-trafficking. The company was owned by Peruvian economist, banker and businessman Dionisio Romero Seminario. He is also the president of one of Peru’s largest banks, Banco de Credito del Peru.

Montesinos Torres reserved the right to appeal while the prosecution agreed with the court’s sentence.

The ex-spy chief is already incarcerated at the Callao maximum-security prison serving serving a 15-year term on corruption charges and a 20-year sentence for his direct involvement in illegal weapon deals.

In addition, Montesinos has previously been found guilty of embezzlement, illegally assuming his post as intelligence chief, other abuse of power and influence peddling charges, and bribing TV stations. Those carry sentences between five and fifteen years, but Peruvian prison sentences are served concurrently, so prosecutors continue to pursue him on additional charges.

by Wolfy Becker