Peru ex‑President Ollanta Humala Freed: Court Overturns 15‑Year Sentence
In a landmark decision, Peru’s supreme court declared the entire criminal case against former president Ollanta Humala null and void, paving the way for his imminent release from Barbadillo Prison.
Humala, who led Peru from 2011 to 2016, had been convicted in 2025 over corruption allegations tied to bribes from Venezuelan leader Hugo Chávez and the Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht. The court’s ruling effectively erases the 15‑year prison term and the financial penalties.
His spouse, former first lady Nadine Heredia, who shared the same conviction and received the same sentence, was granted safe‑passage to Brazil after seeking asylum in the Brazilian embassy. The couple have long denied the allegations, claiming political persecution.
This decision follows a series of high‑profile Odebrecht scandals in Latin America. Alejandro Toledo, ex‑president of the 2000s, was sentenced to over 20 years for accepting $35 million in bribes. Alan García, who served two terms, collapsed under arrest after the scandal emerged. Pedro Pablo Kuczynski faced impeachment due to alleged Odebrecht payments during his earlier public service.
Despite the overturning of his sentence, investigations into Humala and others are ongoing, as Argentine prosecutors and international bodies continue to scrutinize the extensive network of payments that permeated the region’s politics.
Olla, former president, steps out of court, signaling the start of a new chapter in Peru’s political saga.
