Imprisoned ex-President Alberto Fujimori is undergoing medical exams to determine his weight loss, daily El Comercio reported.
Fujimori, 72, was admitted to Lima’s oncology hospital INEN to examine a precancerous growth on his tongue, on which he had surgery last year.
“There has been a big weight loss, a little more than 15 kilograms [33 pounds],” said Fujimori’s head doctor, Alejandro Aguinaga. “There is a growth on his tongue and we are evaluating his circulation. The right leg is also very swollen due to thrombosis.”
The tests will determine if Fujimori’s weight loss is related to the growth on his tongue.
Fujimori ruled Peru from 1990-2000 before fleeing to Japan where he faxed his resignation amid a massive corruption scandal.
He remained in Japan until 2005 when he then flew to Chile, where he was arrested and later deported back to Peru to face corruption and human rights charges. In 2008, Fujimori was convicted and given a 25-year sentence on the human rights charges. He pleaded guilty to the corruption charges.
His daughter, Keiko Fujimori, was elected to congress in 2006 and ran for president this year on the Fuerza 2011 ticket. While unsuccessful in her campaign against opponent Ollanta Humala, the 36-year-old congresswoman received more than 48 percent of the votes in the run-off vote last week. Her party holds 36 seats in the 130-member Congress.
