Former Peruvian President Alejandro Toledo was sentenced to 20 years and six months in prison on Monday for his involvement in a bribery scandal linked to the Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht, known for its extensive corruption across Latin America.
Toledo was accused of accepting approximately $35 million in bribes from Odebrecht in exchange for approving the construction of a highway that would connect Brazil and southern Peru. This project saw its estimated cost soar from $507 million to $1.25 billion.
The scandal, which marred Toledo’s presidency from 2001 to 2006, also implicated three other former Peruvian presidents in allegations of receiving illicit payments from Odebrecht.
The National Superior Court of Specialized Criminal Justice in Lima issued the sentence after years of legal disputes, including a protracted battle over Toledo’s extradition from the United States, where he had been living.
Judge Inés Rojas, who delivered the verdict, highlighted that the real victims of Toledo’s actions were the Peruvian people, who had placed their trust in him as their leader. She stated, “He defrauded the state” by failing to safeguard public resources and manage finances appropriately.
In her ruling, Rojas emphasized that Toledo had a duty to act with integrity and protect the assets of the state, yet he chose to engage in corrupt dealings with Odebrecht.
The court’s decision was bolstered by testimony from Jorge Barata, a former Odebrecht executive in Peru, who detailed how Toledo persistently demanded bribes, even after his presidency ended. Barata’s testimony, which included vivid descriptions of Toledo’s demands, was read in court while the former president sat silently, looking at his hands.
Throughout the proceedings, Toledo maintained a defiant attitude, often smirking and laughing when large sums of money were mentioned. His attorney, Roberto Siu, announced intentions to appeal the verdict, while Toledo had previously requested to return home due to his age and health issues, a plea that was denied.
Toledo’s legal troubles began with his arrest in 2019 at his California home, where he had returned in 2016 for a visiting scholar role at Stanford University. After spending time in solitary confinement and later under house arrest during the COVID-19 pandemic, he was extradited to Peru in 2022 following a U.S. court ruling against his extradition challenge.
Judge Rojas confirmed that Toledo would receive credit for time served starting in April 2023 and will serve his sentence at a prison outside Lima designated for former presidents.
Prosecutor José Domingo Pérez described the ruling as “historic,” asserting that it signals to the Peruvian public that “crimes and corruption are punished.”
The Odebrecht scandal first gained attention in 2016 when the company admitted to bribing officials throughout Latin America as part of a U.S. Department of Justice investigation. The fallout has significantly impacted political landscapes across the continent, with Peru being one of the hardest hit. In 2020, Odebrecht rebranded as Novonor in an attempt to distance itself from its corrupt past.
