Peru approves charges against Fujimori ahead of extradition bid News
Peru approves charges against Fujimori ahead of extradition bid

[JURIST] The government of Peru has approved 12 of the 17 charges proposed by the country's Supreme Court against former president Alberto Fujimori [personal website; JURIST news archive], currently detained in Chile after being arrested [JURIST report] there in November when he returned from self-imposed exile in Japan. Peru is expected to file an extradition request with Chile before the January 6 legal deadline; a previous government request to launch an extradition bid was denied [JURIST report] by Peru's own Supreme Court because the proposed charges did not satisfy the requirements of the extradition treaty between Peru and Chile. Fujimori was president of Peru from 1990 until 2000 before fleeing the country for Japan during a corruption scandal. He currently faces charges of corruption, authorizing an illegal death squad, and abuse of power stemming from his term in office, but insists that he wants to run for president against despite a recent Constitutional Court ruling barring him [JURIST report]. BBC News has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Charlemagne crowned Holy Roman Emporer

On December 25, 800 A.D., Charlemagne was crowned Holy Roman Emperor by Pope Leo III in Rome, Italy. During his lifetime, Charlemagne united most of Western Europe for the first time since the fall of the Western Roman Empire. He is credited with spreading the rule of law throughout his dominions as well as starting the French and German monarchies.

President Andrew Johnson pardoned Confederates

On December 25, 1868, President Andrew Johnson granted an unconditional pardon to all who had been involved in "insurrection or rebellion" during the US Civil War.