Former Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori smiles while entering a courtroom at a police base in Lima, 10 Dec 2007

Former Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori is facing up to seven years in prison for ordering an illegal search, in a trial separate from one he faces for human rights charges.

The court is expected to sentence Mr. Fujimori Tuesday on charges that he ordered a search, without a warrant, of an apartment belonging to the wife of a former security chief, Vladimiro Montesinos. Mr. Fujimori acknowledges ordering the search, but says it was to investigate allegations that Montesinos was laundering money.

On Monday, Mr. Fujimori appeared before three Supreme Court judges to face charges that he authorized government death squads to kill leftist rebels during his presidency. He faces up to 30 years in prison if convicted.

The former president angrily defended himself in a fiery outburst that prompted one of the judges to call him to order.

That trial is scheduled to resume Wednesday.

Mr. Fujimori left Peru in 2000 after 10 years in office. He spent five years in exile in Japan, his ancestral homeland, before flying to Chile to stage a political comeback. He was arrested soon after his arrival in Chile.

The Chilean Supreme Court eventually ruled that Mr. Fujimori be extradited to Peru to face the charges against him.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP and AP.