Chile's supreme court granted bail of US$3,000 yesterday to Alberto Fujimori, the former Peruvian president, allowing him to leave the Military Police School in Chile's capital Santiago, where he had been since November 7.

 

Peru is trying to make Fujimori stand trial for human rights abuses and corruption.

 

Leaving the school at 3.30 PM local time (1930 GMT) Thursday, Fujimori told local media that "obviously I am happy ... and I am leaving the School in the same conditions when I arrived."

 

The court said that "the defendant's bail is not a danger to public security or his (alleged) victims, and will not delay current court proceedings."

 

Under the bail terms, Fujimori, president from 1990 to 2000, cannot leave Chile.

 

The court also refused a May 15 appeal by Fujimori's defense team.

 

Prosecutors working for the Peruvian government sent documents to Santiago in January demanding Fujimori's extradition for 10 crimes, including two human rights violations.

 

Investigating judge, Orlando Alvarez, set bail at US$3,000, and Fujimori will now probably begin living in a house rented by his family in Las Condes.

 

A Chilean minister, Jaimi Rodriguez Espoz, had argued against the decision saying that the number and seriousness of Fujimori's crimes mean that he does represent a threat to society, and Alfredo Etcheverry, the Chilean lawyer representing Peru, said the decision was regrettable, adding, "we fear that Fujimori will flee the country."

 

Fujimori appeared in Chile on November 6, and was swiftly arrested, as Peru has listed him as a fugitive from justice since 2000.

 

He is barred from standing for public office until at least 2011, due to his resignation from the presidency in 2000 after his government collapsed amid a corruption scandal.

 

Peru is seeking to try Fujimori on 21 charges, from abuse of power to allowing death squads to operate, and ordering two massacres, which have left a total of 25 victims in 1991 and 1992.

 

(Xinhua News Agency May 19, 2006)