Ex-Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori Suffers Minor Stroke In Jail, Now Stable

Jailed former President Alberto Fujimori on Thursday, March 13, 2014. (ap)

LIMA, Peru (AP) – Former Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori suffered a stroke on Friday and was hospitalized in stable condition with some loss of control of his left upper arm, his doctor said.

The stroke occurred early Friday at the police compound where the 75-year-old Fujimori is serving a 25-year sentence for authorizing death squads during his 1990--2000 presidency, his neurologist, Dr. Juan Barreto, told The Associated Press.

Barreto said Fujimori would be hospitalized indefinitely and was being treated to ensure his loss of motor skills does not become permanent.

Barreto says the strike could be related to stress and to the high blood pressure from which Fujimori suffers.

Fujimori is currently in the midst of his fifth criminal trial, this one for allegedly diverting millions in public funds to tabloids that were used to attack his political opponents and back his 1998 and 2000 re-election bids. At some of the court hearings, he has appeared disheveled and disoriented.

Fujimori fled in disgrace and faxed in his resignation 2000 after videotapes emerged of his spy chief, Vladimiro Montesinos, bribing prominent politicians and businessmen.

In a failed attempt to mount a political comeback, Fujimori tried to return from exile in Japan but was arrested in Chile and has been jailed in his homeland since 2007.

A medical team determined last year that Fujimori suffers from depression, hypertension, chronic gastritis and lumbago, among other maladies.