Peruvian ex-presidents face courts in separate corruption trials
Two former presidents of Peru are facing contrasting outcomes in ongoing corruption cases. On Wednesday, an appeals court ordered the release of former president Martin Vizcarra, who had been placed in pretrial detention last month over corruption allegations and considered a flight risk. Vizcarra, who led Peru from 2018 to 2020, is accused of accepting 2.3 million soles (about $640,000) in bribes in exchange for public works contracts more than a decade ago while serving as governor of the Moquegua region. He denies the charges.
The 62-year-old had been held in a prison for former presidents, where Alejandro Toledo, Ollanta Humala, and Pedro Castillo are also incarcerated.
Meanwhile, former president Alejandro Toledo, who governed Peru between 2001 and 2006, received a new 13-year prison sentence for money laundering linked to bribes from Brazilian construction firm Odebrecht. Prosecutors allege that Toledo collected an estimated $35 million in bribes, which were used to purchase real estate.
The 79-year-old is already serving a 20-year-and-six-month sentence on corruption charges. Under Peruvian law, however, the new ruling will not extend his time in prison, as the maximum sentence applies.
