The former Agriculture Minister during the administration of jailed ex-President Alberto Fujimori received a seven year prison sentence Wednesday for fabricating signatures that helped Fujimori get reelected in 2000. Absalón Vásquez was found guilty of fabricating the signatures for the Vamos Vecino party ahead of Peru’s 2000 presidential elections, Agencia Andina reported.
Vamos Vecino was part of the Peru 2000 alliance, the political party Fujimori formed in order to support his 2000 reelection. According to Agencia Andina, Vásquez was found guilty of crimes against public confidence and unlawful association with the intent of committing a crime.
Along with Vásquez, Fujimori’s former presidential adviser and intelligence chief, Vladimiro Montesinos, was sentenced to eight years in prison for bribing officials to carry out the forgeries.
Vamos Vecino’s former director, Migdonio Bellota, and current lawmaker Rolando Reátegui were also found guilty of supporting the forgeries. Bellota was sentenced to six years in prison while Reátegui received a four year sentence, which amounts to a slap on the wrist. According to Peru’s penal code, any sentence of four years or less is automatically suspended.
