MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Former Peruvian president free on bail

Former Peruvian president Alberto Fujimori was released on bail Thursday afternoon by the Chilean High Court after spending six months under arrest in Santiago's Gendarmerie headquarters.

"I'm obviously pleased, with the High Court decision. I'm leaving confident, in the same conditions I arrived", said Mr. Fujimori who recalled he came "voluntarily to this friendly country which is Chile".

The 4-1 decision in favour of Fujimori, who has been under arrest in Chile since November while the courts process a Peruvian request for his extradition, was handed down by the high court's 2nd Criminal Chamber.

Fujimori is wanted for trial in Peru on charges of corruption and human rights abuse, Surrounded by reporters and his attorneys the former president (1990/2000) Fujimori was also banned from leaving Chile while the extradition case in under way.

Judge Orlando Alvarez who is in charge of the extradition proceedings had originally denied bail to Fujimori arguing the benefit does not apply to defendants facing extradition. However the defence successfully appealed the initial decision.

Mr. Fujimori arrived in Santiago unexpectedly last November 6 from the self imposed exile when he resigned to the Peruvian presidency and took refuge in Japan his ancestral homeland.

At the time Mr. Fujimori said his intention was to run in the Peruvian presidential campaign, in spite of having been barred from office by Congress for ten years.

The presidential run off in Peru will take place Sunday June 4.

The latest public opinion poll from the University of Lima shows former president Alan Garcia ahead of ultranationalist former Army officer Ollanta Humala by 50.6% to 31.1%; blank ballots 6.5%; broken ballots 6.1% and undecided 5.7%.

If only valid votes are counted, Garcia has 61.9% and Humala 38.1%.