Former President Alan Garcia on Wednesday morning shot himself after authorities arrived at his Lima home with a 10-day preliminary detention order against him linked to the Odebrecht case investigation.
"The former president made the decision to shoot himself," his lawyer Erasmo Reyna told reporters outside the Casimiro Ulloa Hospital, where
Garcia was taken for medical procedures.
According to Health Minister Zulema Tomas, Garcia is currently in the operating room. His health is in a "very serious condition."
Dozens of police have redoubled security at the health facility.
The former Head of State's relatives have also arrived at the hospital.
Earlier, the Judiciary ordered the preliminary arrest of
Garcia, as well as of the former Secretary-General of the Presidency Luis Nava and former Petroperu Vice-President Miguel Atala, and their respective sons Jose Antonio Nava and Samir Atala,
among other people.
Alan Garcia served as President of Peru between 1985-1990 and 2006-2011.