Criminal Charges in Fujimori Exit Filed

Peru's attorney general filed the first criminal charges against former President Alberto Fujimori, accusing the ousted leader of abandonment of office and dereliction of duty.

Congress paved the way for the criminal proceedings last week by approving the charges against Fujimori, who was swept from power after fleeing to Japan in November amid a scandal involving his former spy chief, Vladimiro Montesinos.

Under Peru's constitution, the president must obtain permission from Congress to leave the country and return within a specified time.

In a letter to Japan's Kyodo News Service earlier this week, Fujimori said the congressional charges were unconstitutional and had no legal basis.