A dramatic legal saga unfolds in Peru as former president Ollanta Humala and his wife Nadine Heredia confront serious consequences for their political past.
According to BBC, a court in Lima has sentenced both Humala and Heredia to 15 years in prison after finding them guilty of laundering money received from Venezuela's late president Hugo Chávez and Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht to finance their election campaigns in 2006 and 2011.
The ruling marks a significant downfall for the former army officer who served as Peru's president from 2011 to 2016. Prosecutors successfully proved that the couple accepted $3 million in illegal contributions from Odebrecht for their 2011 presidential campaign, along with $200,000 from Venezuelan leader Hugo Chávez for their 2006 campaign efforts.
Humala joins a growing list of Peruvian presidents caught in corruption scandals. Alejandro Toledo, who governed from 2001 to 2006, received a 20-year prison sentence for accepting $35 million in bribes from Odebrecht. Former president Alan García took his own life in 2019 when faced with imminent arrest over similar allegations.
The investigation's reach extends to Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, who served as president from 2016 to 2018. He currently faces ongoing scrutiny regarding millions of dollars in payments received from Odebrecht during his previous government role, though he maintains these transactions were legal.
The couple's legal team has already announced plans to appeal the verdict. Wilfredo Pedraza, Humala's lawyer, expressed his concerns about the ruling.
While Humala was escorted to Barbadillo prison following the verdict, his wife orchestrated a different outcome. Heredia, along with the couple's son, sought refuge in the Brazilian embassy before authorities could execute the arrest warrant.
Brazil's decision to grant asylum to Heredia has added diplomatic complexity to the case. The Peruvian government has agreed to honor the 1954 asylum convention, allowing safe passage for both Heredia and her son.
Brazilian authorities confirmed Heredia's arrival in Brasilia, from where she will continue to São Paulo, according to her legal representation.
Humala's journey to the presidency began with his military service fighting against Maoist Shining Path rebels. He first gained national attention in 2000 by leading a brief military uprising against then-president Alberto Fujimori.
His political evolution saw him shift from a staunch leftist platform inspired by Hugo Chávez in 2006 to a more moderate stance in 2011, when he successfully defeated Keiko Fujimori by adopting policies similar to those of Brazil's Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. The former president's term was marked by declining popularity due to violent social conflicts and eroding congressional support.
Ollanta Humala and Nadine Heredia's conviction represents a significant moment in Peru's ongoing battle against political corruption. The former president now resides in Barbadillo prison alongside other fallen leaders, while his wife has found refuge in Brazil through diplomatic channels.
The court's decision concludes a lengthy investigation that began shortly after Humala's presidency ended in 2016, when Odebrecht's massive bribery scheme across Latin America came to light. The case stands as a testament to Peru's efforts to hold its highest officials accountable for corruption, regardless of their former status or political influence.
