Peru’s Constitutional Court has ordered the immediate release of former President Alberto Fujimori, who was serving a 25-year sentence for crimes against humanity.
The decision, crucially signed by half of the court’s members, directs the National Penitentiary Institute and the Barbadillo prison’s director to facilitate Fujimori’s release.
This move comes after a pivotal ruling on Fujimori’s ‘habeas corpus’ petition.
Last Friday, Judge Vicente Fernández of the First Preparatory Investigation Court of Ica denied Fujimori’s release, citing a lack of jurisdiction.
Subsequently, he returned all related documents to the Constitutional Court for appropriate legal action. This step marked a significant turn in the case’s proceedings.
Despite the Inter-American Court of Human Rights’ (IACHR) previous order to halt such decisions, the Constitutional Court proceeded with Fujimori’s release.
The IACHR had called for justice for victims of the Barrios Altos and La Cantuta massacres.
In response, the Constitutional Court noted the IACHR’s lack of direct authority in preventing the execution of its judicial decisions.
Additionally, the judiciary annulled the pardon granted to Fujimori in 2017 by then-President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski in 2018.
This followed the Inter-American Court’s request to Peru to ensure justice for the victims involved.
Furthermore, the IACHR recently requested a report from Peru by December 6, focusing on the Constitutional Court’s decision from March 17, 2022.
The IACHR had asked Peru not to implement the 2022 decision, which reinstated Fujimori’s 2017 pardon.
Fujimori, sentenced for his role in the Barrios Altos and La Cantuta cases, was serving his term in Lima’s Barbadillo prison.
This latest court order marks a significant shift in Fujimori’s legal journey, highlighting the complex interplay between national and international judicial decisions.