Peru former president Alan Garcia kills himself ahead of arrest
Left-wing populist presided over an economic collapse in his first term before embracing free-market policies in his second
Lima — Alan Garcia, a former president of Peru suspected in a continent-wide corruption scandal, died in a Lima hospital Wednesday after shooting himself as police arrived to search his home. President Martin Vizcarra confirmed his death in a tweet. Garcia killed himself when officers attempted to detain him, his lawyer, Erasmo Reyna, said. “President Garcia made the decision of a free man,’’ Mauricio Mulder, a legislator with Garcia’s Apra party, told reporters outside the hospital. “For we Apristas, who are his family, it’s an act of dignity and honor in the face of a fascist, sick, persecution.’’ Garcia was president of the South American nation between 1985 and 1990 and again from 2006 to 2011. A left-wing populist, he presided over an economic collapse in his first term before embracing free-market policies in his second term, and the country enjoyed rapid growth. But, like top officials across the continent, he was swept up in the Odebrecht scandal and was under investigation...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.