Alejandro Toledo becomes first former Peruvian President convicted in Odebrecht case

Lima, Peru.- Peruvian justice found former President Alejandro Toledo (2001-2006) guilty of collusion and money laundering related to bribes from the Brazilian company Odebrecht, sentencing him to 20 years and six months in prison. This makes him the first former president in Peru to serve a sentence for corruption linked to the Odebrecht scandal.

The Second National Collegiate Criminal Court, led by Judge Zaida Pérez, fully accepted the Public Prosecutor’s Office’s request, imposing nine years for collusion and eleven years and six months for money laundering. The court established that Toledo facilitated irregularities in the bidding process for the Interoceanic Highway, specifically favoring Odebrecht between 2004 and 2005.

The ruling stated that Toledo colluded with Odebrecht to secure a $35 million bribe for the construction of sections 2 and 3 of the highway, which links Peru and Brazil. The court noted that these actions represented a clear collusion between a high-ranking official and private individuals, defrauding the state. Additionally, Toledo allegedly enlisted his friend, the late Israeli businessman Josef Maiman, to act as an intermediary in receiving the bribe. Anti-corruption prosecutor José Domingo Pérez described the sentence as “historic” and “exemplary,” highlighting that it demonstrates Peru’s commitment to holding corrupt officials accountable.