Peru’s former president Alan Garcia dead after shooting himself moments before police kick down his front door amid money laundering probe
Mr Garcia was rushed to hospital in a serious condition
PERU’S former president Alan Garcia is dead after shooting himself in the neck as police kicked down his front door to arrest him.
The 69-year-old was due to be questioned about money laundering allegations.
Health Minister Zulema Tomas earlier said doctors provided cardiac resuscitation three times and were proceeding to operate on the 69-year-old former head of state.
He said: “The situation is very critical. It’s grave.”
His lawyer, Erasmo Reyna, said outside the hospital he would seek justice for his client.
“We pray to God to give him strength. We will do everything in our power to revert this unjust situation.”
He was later announced deceased.
He has been accused of bribery in relation to the Odebrecht corruption scandal.
Police arrived at Mr Garcia’s house, kicking down his door, in order to arrest him but he shot himself in the neck in his own bedroom, Peruvian media reports.
In November Uruguay rejected a request for asylum after the ex-president had spent around two weeks in the Uruguayan embassy in Lima, Peru’s capital.
A judge had barred Mr Garcia from leaving Peru for 18 months.
He allegedly received bribes during the construction of an electric train in Lima by Odebrecht, a Brazilian company.
Mr Garcia denies the allegations and claims to be a victim of political persecution.
He was Peru’s president from 1985 to 1990 and again from 2006 to 2011.
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368 . You can WhatsApp us on 07810 791 502. We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours.