Alejandro Toledo, the former President of Peru, has been sentenced to over 20 years in prison for taking $35 million in bribes from the Odebrecht construction firm in exchange for a freeway construction contract. This makes him the latest Latin American leader jailed in connection with the corruption scandal. Toledo, who served as President from 2001 to 2006, received one of the harshest sentences related to Odebrecht’s bribery campaign across the continent.
During his yearlong trial, Toledo consistently denied charges of money laundering and collusion, but was ultimately convicted and sentenced. This scandal has led to the imprisonment of officials in Peru, Panama, and Ecuador, with investigations also taking place in Guatemala and Mexico. The construction firm has since changed its name to Novonor.
Toledo’s sentence will be served in a prison near Lima specially constructed for former presidents. He may soon be joined by two other ex-presidents, Pedro Pablo Kuczynski and Ollanta Humala, who are also under investigation for similar Odebrecht-related cases. Additionally, former President Pedro Castillo is currently detained and facing charges of “rebellion” following a failed attempt to dissolve Congress in 2022.
Toledo’s case is another example of the far-reaching impact of the Odebrecht scandal on political leaders in Latin America, highlighting the need for greater transparency and accountability in the region.
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