Peru’s ex-president Alan Garcia dies after shooting himself to avoid arrest

Peru’s ex-president Alan Garcia dies after shooting himself to avoid arrest
Copyright  REUTERS/Guadalupe Pardo/File Photo
By Euronews
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"This morning a dramatic accident took place: the president took the decision to shoot a bullet (in the head)," his lawyer, Erasmo Reyna, told journalists outside the hospital.

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Peru’s ex-president Alan Garcia has died after shooting himself as police arrived to arrest him in a bribery probe.

He was taken to hospital in a critical condition in Lima but later died, according to the leader of Garcia's political party.

"This morning a dramatic accident took place: the president took the decision to shoot a bullet (in the head)," his lawyer, Erasmo Reyna, told journalists outside the hospital.

The 69-year-old was president of Peru from 1985 to 1990 and again between 2006 and 2011.

Police arrived at Garcia's home around 13.30 CEST on Wednesday, according to AFP news agency.

He was set to be arrested in the Odebrecht corruption probe.

Odebrecht is a Brazilian construction firm that has been involved in the building of venues for the 2016 Olympics and 2014 football World Cup.

It triggered Latin America's biggest corruption scandal when it admitted in 2016 that it had paid kickbacks to politicians across the region to secure lucrative contracts.

Interior Minister Carlos Moran said at a news conference shortly before Garcia died that the former president had told police he needed to call his attorney after they arrived at his home to arrest him.

"He entered his room and closed the door behind him," Moran said. "Within a few minutes, a shot from a firearm was heard, and police forcibly entered the room and found Mr Garcia sitting with a wound in his head."

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