LIMA, Peru, Dec 10 (Reuters) - A Peruvian judge said on Wednesday he had issued a new international warrant for the arrest of former President Alberto Fujimori, this one charging him with the torture of a journalist who claimed to have evidence of the corruption that ended his rule.
Interpol in March issued a worldwide notice for the arrest of Fujimori, who is living in Tokyo, for the deaths of 15 people in 1991. Peru has already asked Japan to extradite Fujimori to face criminal charges, including murder and kidnapping.
Judge Jose Maria Balcazar told Reuters he ordered the new warrant after collecting enough evidence to prove journalist Fabian Salazar was tortured by Fujimori''s intelligence forces in May 2000.
Disgraced Fujimori fled to Japan in November 2000 after his 10-year authoritarian rule unraveled amid a corruption scandal.
Salazar, a former intelligence agent collaborating with La Republica daily, said three men broke into his Lima office in May 2000, beat him and tried to saw off his left hand before stealing diskettes, videos and documents.
According to Salazar, the security forces were searching for papers and videos that documented corruption in Fujimori''s government.
Although the contents of the videos are not known, six months later videos appeared in the media showing Fujimori''s spy chief Vladimiro Montesinos bribing key figures including judges and diplomats, bringing down Fujimori''s rule.
"There is proof and testimonies from people (linked to the former president) ... who have said Fujimori knew of Salazar''s torture before and after the event," Balcazar said.
Fujimori, who is considered a Japanese citizen because his parents registered him with consular authorities in Peru as an infant, denies any wrongdoing and says he is a victim of political persecution. ((Reporting by Tania Mellado; editing by Diane Bartz; Reuters Messaging robin.emmott.reuters.com@reuters.net; +511 221 2130; e-mail:lima.newsroom@reuters.com))
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