Peru's ex-president dies after shooting himself before arrest
The former leader was about to be detained over corruption allegations after apparently taking bribes from a construction company.
Wednesday 17 April 2019 18:38, UK
Peru's former president has died after shooting himself in the head to avoid arrest over corruption allegations, said officials.
The current leader of the South American country, Martin Vizcarra, confirmed that Alan Garcia had died, saying he was "dismayed".
President Vizcarra also sent his condolences to Garcia's friends and family.
The 69-year-old politician, who had six grown-up children, shot himself when authorities arrived at his home to detain him.
Authorities said he shut himself in a bedroom and then the sound of gunfire was heard.
He was taken to Jose Casimiro Ulloa Hospital in the capital Lima at 6.45am local time (12.45pm GMT) but died more than three hours later.
Peru's health minister Zulema Tomas confirmed Garcia had undergone emergency surgery and suffered three heart attacks.
Doctors said he died from a "massive cerebral haemorrhage from a gunshot and cardiorespiratory arrest".
Police in riot gear were seen surrounding the hospital.
His lawyer said he was distressed over the accusations and his client maintained his innocence.
Garcia had been about to be arrested over corruption claims after allegedly taking illegal payments from Odebrecht, a Brazilian construction giant.
It was part of a wider investigation over bribery in the construction of Lima's metro system during his 2006-2011 government.
Garcia denied ever receiving any money from Odebrecht and claimed he was the victim of false testimony by his political enemies.
The firm is at the centre of Latin America's biggest scandal after it admitted it paid corrupt officials across the region almost $800m (£613m) in exchange for lucrative construction contracts, during a plea agreement with the US Justice Department in 2016.
Various Latin American politicians have been jailed as a result of the scandal, including another former Peruvian leader, Pedro Pablo Kucyznski, who was detained last week as part of a probe into financial ties to the construction firm.
On Tuesday evening, Kucyznski was also taken to hospital with reported high blood pressure.
Alan Garcia first came to power in the 1980s, with a presidency marred by rampant corruption, hyperinflation and the rise of the Shining Path guerrilla movement.
He returned to power two decades later as a more conservative leader, where he played a role in ushering in an investment boom.