Former Peruvian Leader and Wife Convicted in Major Corruption Case

A Peruvian court has sentenced former president Ollanta Humala and his wife Nadine Heredia to 15 years in prison for money laundering related to illegal campaign financing from the Odebrecht construction company. Despite a lengthy trial and significant prosecution demands, the couple maintains their innocence as they grapple with the fallout from widespread corruption revelations.

In a landmark decision, a court in Lima has convicted Ollanta Humala, Peru's former president, and his wife, Nadine Heredia, on charges of money laundering, sentencing them each to 15 years in prison. The court found that Humala accepted illicit funds from the Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht to finance his electoral campaigns during his runs in 2006 and 2011.

The case, which has garnered significant public scrutiny, also highlighted the role of Heredia, a co-founder of Humala's Nationalist Party, who was similarly implicated and received the same sentence. Following the verdict, Peru's foreign ministry confirmed that Heredia had been granted asylum in Brazil, allowing her to travel there safely with their child.

The prosecution had originally sought harsher penalties, proposing a 20-year sentence for Humala and a 26-and-a-half-year sentence for Heredia, but the court ruled after three years of proceedings. Humala was present for the verdict, while Heredia participated via video link.

Ollanta Humala, a former military officer known for his fight against the Shining Path insurgents, gained national attention in 2000 when he led a failed uprising against then-President Alberto Fujimori. In his political career, he aligned with controversial figures such as Hugo Chávez before later adopting a more centrist stance to win the presidency in 2011.

However, his leadership became mired in controversy due to violent social unrest and diminishing Congressional support, leading to a diminished reputation. The corruption allegations began surfacing after the Odebrecht scandal broke in 2016, where the company admitted to sweeping bribery practices across Latin America.

Both Humala and Heredia had been in pre-trial detention due to the ongoing investigation, but were released after a year. The verdict today marks a significant moment in Peru's ongoing struggle with corruption, encapsulated by the Odebrecht saga that has implicated numerous officials throughout Latin America.