Ex Peru President Alejandro Toledo Sentenced in $35 Million Bribery Scandal Linked to Brazil’s Odebrecht Construction Company
LIMA, PERU– Former Peruvian President Alejandro Toledo has been sentenced to 20 years and six months in prison for accepting millions in bribes from Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht. The court’s decision is part of Peru’s long-standing fight against corruption linked to the infamous Lava Jato scandal.
Toledo, who governed Peru from 2001 to 2006, was convicted of receiving $35 million in exchange for awarding contracts to Odebrecht to build parts of an international highway connecting Peru’s Pacific coast with Brazil. Now 78, Toledo was extradited from the United States last year and faced charges of collusion and money laundering.
Appearing in court, Toledo remained composed, despite revealing that he suffers from cancer and heart issues. His case is the latest chapter in the Odebrecht bribery probe, which has ensnared numerous officials across Latin America.
Odebrecht, now renamed Novonor, has admitted to paying massive bribes to secure public works contracts in several countries. In Peru, the scandal implicated other high-profile figures, including two-term President Alan Garcia, who tragically committed suicide in 2019 as police arrived to arrest him. Former President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski also resigned in 2018 due to links to the scandal.
Toledo’s sentencing serves as a stark reminder of the far-reaching effects of the Lava Jato investigation and Peru’s determined pursuit of justice against corrupt officials.
Join our Channel...