Peruvian Interpol chief fired for negligence over Fujimori case
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2005-11-23 11:02

Peruvian Interpol chief was fired on Tuesday for negligence on the night when former President Alberto Fujimori flew over Peru on his way to Chile, local media reported on Tuesday.

The allegation against Colonel Carlos Medel, head of Interpol in Lima, says that he ordered staff to switch off the 24-hour Interpol warning system from late November 5 to early November 6 when Fujimori happened to fly over Peruvian air space on his way from Mexico to Chile, the report said.

Medel is the first official to suffer punishment in Peru over the handling of Fujimori flight and had been replaced by Police Colonel Jose Garcia Blanco, the report said.

Chile fired two immigration officials because they did not check Fujimori's documents properly. Four officials from Mexico, where Fujimori made a refueling stop in the border city of Tijuana, were suspended for failing to notify superiors of Fujimori's stop.

Fujimori, who is wanted on more than 20 serious charges in Peru, landed in Chilean capital of Santiago on November 6 and was arrested in response to an extradition request from the Lima government a day later.

Fujimori, a son of Japanese immigrants, served as Peruvian President from 1990-2000 before fleeing to Japan amid a corruption scandal.