Peru's former president and first lady face justice in a high-profile corruption case stemming from illicit donations tied to a major construction company.
Ex-President of Peru and First Lady Convicted of Money Laundering
Ex-President of Peru and First Lady Convicted of Money Laundering
Ollanta Humala and Nadine Heredia sentenced to 15 years for accepting illegal campaign funds.
Ollanta Humala, the former president of Peru, and his wife, Nadine Heredia, have been sentenced to 15 years in prison by a Lima court for money laundering. The court concluded that Humala accepted illegal funds from the Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht to finance his election campaigns in 2006 and 2011. Heredia, who co-founded the Nationalist Party alongside Humala, received the same sentence. Despite the allegations, both Humala and Heredia denied any wrongdoing.
The sentencing comes after a protracted trial lasting over three years, during which prosecutors sought harsher penalties, including 20 years for Humala and 26.5 years for Heredia. Notably, Heredia, who has sought asylum in Brazil, will be allowed safe passage there with her son as per Peru's foreign ministry.
Humala, who is 62 years old, attended the verdict in person, whereas Heredia participated via video link. This legal fallout traces back to past controversies, including alleged campaign financing from Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez and the subsequent unraveling of their political careers after the Odebrecht scandal broke in 2016, where the company admitted to widespread bribery across Latin America.
