Fujimori Says He’ll Stay in Japan, Keep Peru Citizenship

Peru’s disgraced ex-president, Alberto Fujimori, said that dangers at home prevented his return but that he will keep his Peruvian nationality despite also holding Japanese citizenship, domestic media said today.

It was the first time the strongman who governed Peru for a decade before going into exile last month in Japan had said he would retain his Peruvian nationality.

Japan’s Justice Ministry confirmed a day earlier that Fujimori had Japanese nationality, a status that allows him to stay in the land of his forefathers and probably avoid facing investigators in Peru.

“I am staying in Japan because there is absolutely no guarantee for my personal security in Peru,” he said.

Fujimori said he had no intention, however, of giving up his Peruvian nationality, noting that Peruvian law recognizes dual citizenship.

The decision raises the prospect of a diplomatic row if Lima’s new government asks Tokyo to hand over the former president to face an investigation into the scandals that forced him out of office.

Fujimori resigned as president and was then sacked by Peru’s Congress days after entering Japan on a diplomatic visa in November.

Fujimori said he will not return to Peru to testify in an official investigation into slush funds allegedly controlled by Vladimiro Montesinos, the former Peruvian intelligence chief and a close aide whose downfall led to Fujimori’s own disgrace.

Japan’s chief Cabinet secretary, Yasuo Fukuda, said Tuesday that Tokyo would deal with any demand for Fujimori’s extradition in accordance with Japanese law.

Japan’s law does not allow the extradition of its nationals.