Former Peruvian President Ollanta Humala has been sentenced to 15 years in prison after being found guilty of accepting illegal campaign funds from the Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht, now known as Novonor. His wife, Nadine Heredia, received an identical 15-year sentence for her involvement in the case.
Pronouncing the sentence yesterday, the court observed, the illicit funds were received during Humala’s 2011 presidential campaign and were funnelled through his Nationalist Party. Prosecutors argued that the money helped him secure victory over rival Keiko Fujimori and ultimately win the presidency.
The verdict follows a lengthy investigation that began in 2016, with the trial itself spanning three years.
Humala becomes the second former Peruvian president imprisoned in connection with the Odebrecht corruption scandal and the fourth to be formally charged.
