Peru's former President Alejandro Toledo appears in court for sentencing during his trial on charges of corruption related to the Brazilian company Odebrecht, in Lima, Peru, October 21, 2024. REUTERS/Gerardo MarinSource: REUTERS
Former Peruvian President Alejandro Toledo in a landmark ruling has been sentenced to 20 years and six months in prison for corruption and money laundering.
The verdict, delivered on October 21, 2024, marks a significant chapter in Peru's ongoing battle against high-level corruption.
Toledo, who served as president from 2001 to 2006, was found guilty of accepting $35 million in bribes from the Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht.
The bribes were allegedly in exchange for awarding the company a lucrative contract to build a highway in southern Peru.
The court's decision follows years of legal proceedings, including Toledo's extradition from the United States in 2023.
Judge Inés Rojas, who presided over the case, emphasized the betrayal of public trust. "Peruvians trusted Toledo as their president, responsible for managing public finances and protecting state resources," she stated. "Instead, he defrauded the state, compromising the integrity of our institutions."