Peru's Ex-President Toledo Gets 20 Years for Odebrecht Bribes Linked to Highway Project

Oct 22, 2024, 12:46 AM

Former Peruvian President Alejandro Toledo, who served from 2001 to 2006, has been sentenced to 20 years and six months in prison for collusion and money laundering after accepting at least $35 million in bribes from Brazilian construction company Odebrecht. The bribes were connected to the construction of the Interoceanic Highway, a major infrastructure project linking Peru and Brazil. This historic sentence marks a significant milestone in Peru's ongoing efforts to combat corruption, making Toledo the second former Peruvian president to be convicted of corruption after Alberto Fujimori. Toledo, who played a key role in returning Peru to democracy after Fujimori's authoritarian rule, faced years of legal proceedings, including disputes over his extradition from the United States.