Vladimiro Montesinos was the head of the intelligence service of Peru under Alberto Fujimori. Videos leaked in 2000 revealed Montesinos bribing opposition party leaders to join Fujimori's party. The scandal eventually forced Montesinos to leave Peru, hastened the progress of the trial against Alberto Fujimori, and initiated an investigation against Montesinos that would eventually uncover his involvement in a wide range of crimes including embezzlement, gunrunning, and drug trafficking.
Currently Vladimiro Montesinos is in prison in Peru awaiting trial on gunrunning and drug trafficking charges. He has already been found guilty of embezzlement, corruption, conspiracy, abuse of power, and other offenses.
Fast Facts:
- Born: May 20, 1945
- Head of intelligence under Alberto Fujimori
- Declassified documents suggest that he may have worked with the CIA
- Videos laked in 2000 show him bribing government opposition leaders to support Fujimori
- Convicted on charges of embezzlement, corruption, conspiracy, abuse of power, and other offenses
- On trial for involvement in extra-judicial killings, gunrunning, and drug trafficking
Vladimiro Montesinos News
- The New York Times: Vladimiro Montesinos News
- Google News: Vladimiro Montesinos
- Agence France-Presse: Peru High Court Upholds 6-Year Prison for Fujimori (April 16, 2008)
- "The home invasion charge was tried when Fujimori was abroad—he fled in 2000 to Japan. It involved the home of the wife of his former aide Vladimiro Montesinos, where videotapes incriminating Fujimori in wrongdoing were allegedly taken."
- The New York Times: Peru Ex-Spy Chief Says Candidate for President Aided His Escape (May 21, 2006)
- The New York Times: Tangled Strands in Fight Over Peru Gold Mine (October 25, 2005)
- BBC News: Montesinos: The End of the Road (June 24, 2001)
