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BBC News Online: World: Americas


Tuesday, 20 February, 2001, 17:34 GMT

Peruvian TV boss admits bias deal


Vladimiro Montesinos
The extent of presidential control of the Peruvian media under former President Alberto Fujimori is coming to light.

The director of a Peruvian television channel has admitted to signing a $9m deal with the now disgraced former intelligence chief, Vladimiro Montesinos, to give favourable coverage to Mr Fujimori in the channel's output.

Jose Francisco Crousillat, director of America Television, allegedly agreed to give Mr Montesinos control over programming during the presidential electoral campaign, local media reports say.

Alberto Fujimori
Mr Crousillat also said the government had imposed output restrictions on other media, in order to secure the president's re-election.

A Peruvian television programme highlighted a number of contracts allegedly signed between top television executives and the former intelligence chief.

But the report failed to reveal the identity of the other television executives involved.

'Vladivideos'

The new findings have shocked a nation already immersed in scandals.

Peru has been reeling under daily broadcasts of "Vladivideos" showing leading politicians in conversation with Mr Montesinos and Mr Fujimori.

The latest tapes of Mr Montesinos' secretly filmed meetings with Peru's elite, reveal the former intelligence chief plotting against political opponents with one of Peru's top bankers and boasting of his influence over television news programmes.

Mr Montesinos, who is known in Peru as ''the doctor'', left around 700 videos in his apartment when he fled the country in September.

Immunity

But only a few of "Vladivideos" - many apparently showing high-ranking officials accepting bribes - have so far come to light.

Peruvians celebrating
The bribery scandal involving Mr Montesinos led to the downfall late last year of President Fujimori.

Mr Montesinos, a close ally of Mr Fujimori, is wanted on charges ranging from money laundering to illegal arms dealing.

Last week, a congressional committee in Peru voted to charge Mr Fujimori with abandoning his post, bringing him one step nearer to losing parliamentary immunity from prosecution.


Related to this story:
Prosecutors close in on Fujimori (14 Feb 01 | Americas) More videos set to shock Peru (12 Feb 01 | Americas) New bribe claim in Peru election (07 Feb 01 | Americas) Peru shocked by 'Vladi video' theft (27 Jan 01 | Americas) Montesinos relatives arrested (21 Jan 01 | Americas) Fujimori agrees to questioning (14 Jan 01 | Asia-Pacific) Peru hunts fugitive via internet (28 Dec 00 | Americas)


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