Ollanta Humala's conviction illustrates the ongoing corruption crisis in Peru, as he and his wife, Nadine Heredia, both face prison sentences for accepting illicit funds during election campaigns.
Ollanta Humala Convicted of Money Laundering: A Fall from Grace
Ollanta Humala Convicted of Money Laundering: A Fall from Grace
Peru's former president sentenced to 15 years in prison for illegal funding allegations.
Former Peruvian President Ollanta Humala has been convicted of money laundering, leading to a 15-year prison sentence, announced a court in Lima. The court found that Humala had received illegal financial support from Odebrecht, a Brazilian construction company, to fuel his election campaigns in 2006 and 2011. Alongside him, his wife, Nadine Heredia, co-founder of the Nationalist Party, has also been sentenced to the same term for her involvement in the scandal.
Prosecutors originally sought harsher penalties, calling for a 20-year sentence for Humala and 26.5 years for Heredia. Following a protracted legal battle that exceeded three years, the verdict was finally revealed in a session that saw Humala present in person while Heredia participated via video link. The couple has persistently denied any allegations of wrongdoing.
Ollanta Humala, previously an army officer renowned for his battles against the Shining Path insurgency, first attracted public attention in 2000 with a brief military uprising against the then-President, Alberto Fujimori. His 2006 presidential campaign was marred by accusations of illegal funding stemming from purported ties with Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez. Despite accusations, Humala successfully secured the presidency in 2011, promoting a more centrist agenda modeled after Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
However, his presidency was troubled by civil unrest and dwindling legislative support. Legal troubles emerged following his term's conclusion in 2016, which coincided with Odebrecht's admission to widespread corruption across Latin America. Prosecutors claimed that the couple pocketed millions from Odebrecht, resulting in a judge's order for their pre-trial detention a year later. They were eventually released but remained under investigation, culminating in today’s pivotal ruling.
