Peru's Ex-President Toledo Gets 20 Years and 6 Months for $35 Million Odebrecht Bribes in Highway Case

Oct 21, 2024, 11:48 PM

Former Peruvian President Alejandro Toledo has been sentenced to 20 years and 6 months in prison for collusion in accepting $35 million in bribes from Brazilian construction firm Odebrecht. The bribes were tied to the construction of the Interoceanic Highway, a major infrastructure project. The historic sentence marks a significant milestone in Peru's anti-corruption efforts following a sprawling graft scandal involving Odebrecht across Latin America. The sentencing comes after years of legal wrangling, including disputes over his extradition from the United States. Toledo, who served as president from 2001 to 2006, is the second former Peruvian leader to be convicted of corruption, after Alberto Fujimori.