Ex-Peruvian president's embezzlement trial opens

(CNN) - Former Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori admitted he gave his one-time spy chief $15 million from government coffers, but the money was returned and no crime was committed, his attorneys said at the opening of an embezzlement trial Monday in Peru.

Fujimori stands accused of taking $15 million in public funds in 2000 to give to his right-hand man, spy chief Vladimiro Montesinos, as a bonus in the waning days of his government.

Prosecutor Avelino Guillen disputed that the money had been returned, and asked the judge to sentence the disgraced president to eight years in prison and a fine of 2 million new soles (about $650,600), the state news agency Andina reported.

Fujimori gave the money to Montesinos in September 2000. Two months later, caught in a corruption scandal involving Montesinos, Fujimori fled to Japan and resigned as president.

Monday's hearing was cut short because of a request from the defense for medical attention for Fujimori, who was suffering from high blood pressure.