Fujimori Trial Temporarily Suspended Due to His Haggard Appearance · Global Voices
Juan Arellano

Alberto Fujimori's latest trial was suspended until Monday, October 28, after the former president showed up looking unkempt, disheveled, and carrying a blood pressure monitor.
Fujimori was subpoenaed to testify on Thursday, October 17, about the purchase of the editorial line of some media outlets as part of his re-election campaign during his second term, and which he did with public funds. The process is known as the trial over “chicha (tabloid) newspapers”.
Piden 8 años de cárcel para #Fujimori por desvío de S/. 122 millones para comprar línea editorial de diarios chichas http://t.co/AG6DpgG8MY— TV Perú Noticias (@tv_peru) October 18, 2013
[They are] asking for 8 years in prison for Fujimori for diversion of $122 million [Peruvian soles, $44 million US Dollars] for buying tabloid newspapers
Journalist Jacqueline Fowks, writing for El País, reports [es] what happened in the trial until it was suspended: “In the nearly 40 minute long hearing, the court confirmed that it was awaiting the decision of the Court of First Instance regarding the petition to recuse the three judges who were to try Fujimori; it heard the arguments of [William Paco] Castillo (Fujimori's attorney) for the Supreme Court to try Fujimori, and it sustained the prosecutor's request to increase the amount of civil damages.”
Many Twitter users  were not so convinced [es] about the actual state of the ex-president's health and it became the object of mocking memes [es]:
Por favor, pero para pintar, escribir, twittear si está bien? RT @larepublica_pe: Abogado de #Fujimori,El presidente puede colapsar
— Gammaerys Targaryen (@gammanormids) October 17, 2013
Seriously–but for painting, writing, tweeting, he's okay? Fujiromi's attorney: “the president might collapse.”
#Fujimori se convirtió en tendencia global tras aparecer con este aspecto en juicio http://t.co/17VfvoIiUv pic.twitter.com/Nvf3cAheFd
— Alfonso Baella (@alfonsobaella) October 18, 2013
Fujimori became a global trend after appearing like this at the trial
Some tweeted with sarcasm about what they considered a “show.”
And the winner is… RT @juanlvillegas#Fujimori tremendo actor, palmas por favor.
— Beto Mesones (@mesones) October 17, 2013
What a great actor, applause please.
Totalmente! RT @SeguridadBlanca: #Fujimori se lleva el #Oscar para el #MejorActorDelAño http://t.co/K3Dn7aI8LX
— Cristhian Rojas S (@CristhianRS) October 17, 2013
Totally! RT. Fujimori gets the Oscar for Best Actor.
Some questioned whether it might be part of a new strategy on the part of Fujimori's new lawyer [es], William Paco Castillo.
Fujimori estrenó abogado nuevo. Más adecuado a su perfil de “víctima” y charlatán. Nueva estrategia chicha con look de me acabo de levantar.
— Juan Carlos Barreda (@osobarreda) October 17, 2013
Fujimori debuted new lawyer. More suitable to his “victim” and charlatan profile. Simple new strategy– look, I just got up.
Others took the opportunity to remind us of Fujimori's history of human rights violations:
El Dossier #Fujimori – http://t.co/ermKuucloC
— Jo-Marie Burt (@jomaburt) October 17, 2013
However, there were those who showed concern about the former president's health:
@keikofujimori Fuerza familia #Fujimori, y nunca olviden que DIOS NUNCA SE OLVIDA DE SUS HIJOS BUENOS Y EL CHINO ES UNO DE ELLOS. MUCHA FÉ
— Gabriela Kelly (@GabbyGoodPerson) October 17, 2013
Be strong — and never forget that GOD NEVER FORGETS HIS GOOD CHILDREN AND THE CHINO [Chinese man, a nickname for Fujimori] IS ONE OF THEM. KEEP THE FAITH
Todos los que le estan haciendo pasar ese TAN mal momento a #Fujimori son UNOS HIJOS DE MIL PERR*S
— Luna Massiel ♡ (@Luna_Massiel) October 17, 2013
All of you causing such a bad time for Fujimori are SONS OF BITCH*S
@tuteve #Fujimori Opositores q guardan odio y se olvidan donde estaban cuando habia un coche bomba Fuji acabo con l barbarie q ingratitud!!
— MARIA JULIA (@maryju333) October 18, 2013
Opponents who hate and forget where they were when there was a car bomb. Fuji ended the barbarism. What ingratitude!
This is the sixth trial for Fujimori, and he will face a sentence of 8 to 15 years if he is convicted.
In the previous five trials he was convicted on charges of corruption, embezzlement, misappropriation of public funds and abuse of power, among other things. In one of the trials he was sentenced to 25 years in prison for human rights violations.