Former President Alejandro Toledo of Peru was sentenced to 20 years and six months in prison for his involvement in a corruption case with Brazilian construction company Odebrecht. Toledo was accused of accepting $35 million in bribes in exchange for allowing the construction of a highway in Peru. The National Superior Court of Specialized Criminal Justice in Lima imposed the sentence after years of legal battles, including disputes over Toledo’s extradition from the United States.
Judge Inés Rojas stated that Toledo’s actions defrauded the state and betrayed the trust of the Peruvian people who elected him as their president. As a public official, Toledo had a duty to manage public finances properly and protect state assets, which he failed to do. Odebrecht’s corrupt practices in Latin America exposed widespread bribery schemes that influenced major infrastructure projects across the region.
Odebrecht admitted in 2016 to paying bribes for government contracts in Latin America, leading to investigations in several countries, including Mexico, Guatemala, and Ecuador. In Peru, Toledo and three other former presidents were accused of receiving payments from Odebrecht. Toledo allegedly received $35 million for awarding a highway construction contract that ended up costing the state significantly more than estimated.
During the trial, former Odebrecht executive Jorge Barata testified that Toledo repeatedly demanded bribes even after leaving office. Toledo denied the accusations against him and plans to appeal the sentence. Despite his serious charges, Toledo displayed a lack of remorse during the trial, often smirking and laughing at the mention of large sums of money or evidence against him.
Toledo, who was arrested in 2019 in California, where he had been living since 2016, was extradited to Peru in 2022 after a court denied his challenge to extradition. He has been in preventive detention and is expected to serve the rest of his sentence in a specially built prison for former Peruvian presidents. The prosecutor described the sentence as historic and a clear message that crimes and corruption will not go unpunished in Peru.
Toledo’s involvement in the Odebrecht corruption scandal highlights the widespread impact of corrupt practices in Latin America by powerful companies and government officials. The case serves as a reminder of the importance of holding those in positions of power accountable for their actions and ensuring that justice is served. The sentencing of Toledo sends a strong message that corruption will not be tolerated in Peru and that those guilty of such crimes will face the consequences.
