Living in Peru : your everyday companion

Living in Peru
Israel J. Ruiz

Vladimiro Montesinos, the former head of Peru's National Intelligence Service during the 1990s, testified Monday morning that he and ex-President Alberto Fujimori were not involved in the death squad killings Fujimori is on trial for.

The former Peruvian president, who is facing up to 30 years in jail, is on trial for ordering two death squad massacres that left 25 people dead.

Upon arriving to court, the former spy chief affirmed that he would not plea for the right to remain silent. He assured that he could legally remain silent if he wished to do so.

On the other hand, Montesinos affirmed that he would not testify about anything that happened before 1991 or anything that occurred after 1992.

While many have looked forward to the former security chief's testimony since Fujimori's trial began last year - many claiming his statements would be key in the trial against Fujimori - Cesar Nakazaki, the former president's lawyer assured last week that he was not worried about Montesinos' testimony because he was not in charge of military intelligence.

Montesinos assured on Monday that Fujimori had "no responsibility" for the death of innocent civilians at a barbecue as well as the kidnapping and murder of several university students.

The former head of the country's national intelligence agency, now 63 years old, is currently serving a 20-year sentence for illegally selling weapons to rebels in Colombia.