Former Peruvian President, Alan Garcia, has asked for an asylum after he entered the Uruguayan embassy Saturday night. This all took place just hours after Garcia was banned from leaving Peru due to his current state of investigation. Alan Garcia is currently under investigation for suspected bribes that were given out during the establishment of the electric train, located in Lima. The train hoped to solve traffic problems by constructing eight stations for the use of public transportation. The consequence for this act was administered by a judge the same day Garcia left the country. The judge stated that Garcia was not to leave the country for 18 months while the investigation was being held. This isn’t the only charge being held against Gracia. His prosecutor also claims Garcia received $100,000 for taking part in a conference in Brazil. This money most likely came from an Odebrecht fund, the same company that Garcia is under investigation for bribing. This isn’t the first time we’ve seen bribe money taken in exchange for a public work contract. In many Latin American countries, officials have been stationed in hopes to prevent this problem from happening again. Garcia claims that he is willing to face the rulings made against him and argues that the prosecution is all part of a distraction to prevent people from focusing on the countries unemployment rate. Previously, in 1992, Garcia applied for an asylum in the Colombian embassy. All the while he was being investigated for corruption and illicit enrichment during his first term as President. Garcia is held to testify in court Thursday to face all claims made against him. In my opinion Alan Garcia should not be granted an asylum and needs to be held accountable for his actions. By granting Garcia with an asylum, it sets an example we don’t want other leaders following. The act shows it ok to break rules as President. This gives the government all the more reason to show Garcia and any future or current leaders that just because they’ve take on such a strong role in government, doesn’t mean they are above the law. Even though he claims to accept all rulings made against him, by leaving the country against the judges ruling, he’s going back on his word.
