Alejandro Toledo, Former Peruvian Leader, Sentenced to Over 20 Years for Bribery

Former Peruvian leader Alejandro Toledo has been sentenced to more than 20 years in prison for his involvement in the Odebrecht corruption scandal. He was found guilty of receiving $35 million in bribes from the Brazilian construction firm in exchange for a freeway construction contract, leading to a sentence of 20 years and six months.

In a recent court appearance, the 78-year-old Toledo, who held the presidency from 2001 to 2006, expressed a desire to be treated at a private clinic, citing health complications linked to cancer.

Toledo’s sentencing is one of the most severe consequences stemming from Odebrecht’s extensive bribery operations throughout Latin America. During his year-long trial, he consistently denied the charges of money laundering and collusion leveled against him. He was initially arrested in the United States in 2019 after Peru requested his extradition and was sent back to Peru in 2022 following a protracted legal dispute.

The Odebrecht scandal has resulted in the imprisonment of various officials in multiple countries, including Peru, Panama, and Ecuador, with investigations also ongoing in Guatemala and Mexico. The company has since changed its name to Novonor. In a significant development in 2019, 14 high-profile lawyers in Peru were jailed for allegedly providing the firm with preferential treatment in public contracts.

Toledo will serve his sentence in a facility located on the outskirts of Lima, specifically designated for former presidents. He may soon find himself in company, as two other former leaders, Pedro Pablo Kuczynski and Ollanta Humala, are currently under investigation for similar allegations related to Odebrecht. Additionally, former President Pedro Castillo is being detained on charges of “rebellion” after an unsuccessful attempt to dissolve Congress in 2022.