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Peru's Air Force NCO arrested on espionage charges

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

After a long investigation, Peru's Air Force Sargeant Victor Ariza Mendoza, who worked at Peru's Embassy in Chile in 2002, was arrested on espionage charges.

Hans Meier, former Peruvian Ambassador to Chile, confirmed to local press that Ariza Mendoza did work at the embassy, but added that he had not any other relationship with the NCO.

According to RadioProgramas del Peru (RPP), Ariza Mendoza was allegedly uncovered when he tried to recruit another NCO for espionage work.

RPP also reported that Ariza Mendoza had received monthly payments between US $5,000 and US$8,000 through a particular money transfer agency.

Former Peru's Defense Minister Antero Flores-Araoz said that if the charges are sustained, the Peruvian state will formally accuse Ariza Mendoza of treason.

Peru's Army General Commander, Jose Graham considered that it is wiser to wait until the investigation ends.

The sociologist Jaime Castro Contreras considered that this is "a matter of concern and alarm" and that “it shows that a continuous work is being done to figure out the Peruvian military vulnerabilities.”

Crimes of treason are punished with death penalty in Peru only if they are commited in cases of war or terrorism, as stated in Article 140 of Peruvian Constitution.

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# jb says :
13 November, 2009 [ 10:09 ]

If found guilty, he should be executed by a firing squad.  The worst kind of traitor is one who does it for money.

# Oliver says :
13 November, 2009 [ 10:27 ]

Alive or dead this guy and his family are ******

# Arturo Cortez says :
13 November, 2009 [ 14:32 ]

And a coincidence they announced the buying of missiles to the US

You know what? Don't pick the trap, and don't pay more attention.

Just concentrate peruvians in our economic development.

Only we ourselves will get out of proverty.

# Santa Rosa de Lima says :
14 November, 2009 [ 07:58 ]

'Love your neighbor as yourself.'
maybe it gets lost in translation  or was forgotten
Chile is Peru s neighbor vecino

# P.V. says :
14 November, 2009 [ 14:54 ]

President Garcia´s Smoke at work here and working overtime friends.
Just look at the timing of all of this.
Last week he tried throwing a big party to hide his Petroleum Scandal and that one did not work, he had only one card left and as allways let´s pick a fight with Chile or Ecuador.
The Petroleum Scandal has exposed The Manager of Petroperu selling out Peru and Peruvians by awarding prime petroleum contracts to companys that are not qualifyed to opperate these blocks for the maximum benefit of Peru and Peruvians, they recieved these contracts because of under the table dealings. (many of these companys no one has ever heard of) yet here they are acting like big players and Peru is left with the big mess after the are gone.
Just more of the same Peruvians selling out Peruvians. 
Let the millitary handle it´s self and those that try selling out.

# Cristhian says :
17 November, 2009 [ 16:05 ]

Well the case of spy for the Chilean government is further proof of the true intentions of the Chilean unfriendly, while Peru is promoting good relations proposing curb the arms race in South America

All a case of treason and the Chileans hypocrisy

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