Peru’s Ex-President kills himself before arrest

Former Peru President Alan Garcia, 69, died from a self-inflicted wound caused by a gunshot to the head. Officials were preparing to arrest him on Wednesday morning.

Garcia, who served as the President from 1985 to 1990 and from 2006 to 2011, was under investigation for money laundering and taking bribes in connection with a massive corruption scandal involving a number of former Latin American leaders. He had denied the claims.

Interior Minister Carlos Morán told the press that when officials arrived in his home to execute an arrest warrant at 6:30 in the morning, he asked the permission to contact his lawyer and went to his bedroom. Moments later, the officers rushed to his bedroom after a gunshot was heard. They found him with a wound to the head.

Garcia was rushed to a hospital in Lima, the country’s capital, but the doctors couldn’t revive him, said the Health Minister of Peru in a statement to the media.

The current President Martin Vizcarra tweeted his condolences to Garcia’s family.

(Title image Courtesy: historica.fandom.com)