Singapore, Nov 15 (EFE) Peruvian President Alan Garcia will cut short his visit to the Asia- Pacific Economic Cooperation summit here to deal with an espionage case back home allegedly involving Chile.
Garcia said he cancelled his meeting with his Chilean counterpart Michelle Bachelet at the summit after the row. He said he will make a statement on the issue once he is back in Peru.
“We have to postpone it (Sunday’s meeting with Bachelet) because we’re returning to Peru precisely over this issue,” the president said Saturday.
The RPP radio said Thursday that an air force officer who had worked for Peru’s embassy in Chile until 2003 has been accused of spying for Chile and is under arrest.
Peru defence ministry said they were aware of the case, but had been given instructions not to reveal it, as it was a delicate matter.
The accused allegedly received between $5,000 and $8,000 per month during the time he was spying for Chile and was caught while trying to recruit a colleague to work as a double agent, RPP said.
Under Peruvian law, the suspect could be tried for treason, a crime punishable by life imprisonment in times of peace and death in times of war.
A Lima judge has also ordered the arrest of two other Peruvian air force officers and extradition proceedings against two Chilean military officers allegedly involved in the espionage case.
Meanwhile, Peru has recalled its ambassador to Chile for consultations and cancelled a planned visit to Santiago by Production Minister Mercedes Araoz next week.
