Former Peruvian Leader Sentenced in Money Laundering Scandal

Former Peruvian President Ollanta Humala and his wife, Nadine Heredia, face 15-year sentences for money laundering, linked to the extensive Odebrecht corruption scandal.

Quick Takes

Ollanta Humala and Nadine Heredia have been sentenced for money laundering linked to the Odebrecht scandal.
Illicit contributions reportedly financed Humala’s 2006 and 2011 campaigns.
Humala plans to appeal the court’s decision, while Heredia has been granted asylum in Brazil.
Most Peruvian presidents since 2001 have been affected by similar corruption issues.

Humala and Heredia Sentenced

A Peruvian court sentenced former President Ollanta Humala and his wife, Nadine Heredia, to 15 years of imprisonment for money laundering. They were implicated in accepting illegal contributions from Odebrecht, a construction giant, and former Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. These funds were allegedly used to finance Humala’s presidential campaigns in 2006 and 2011.

This verdict is part of a vast web of corruption orchestrated by Odebrecht across Latin America. The company admitted to paying over $29 million in bribes to Peruvian politicians from 2005 to 2016. Humala’s legal woes began shortly after his presidency ended in 2016, with the initial investigations starting in 2015.

A Peruvian court has sentenced former President Ollanta Humala to 15 years in prison for receiving illicit campaign funds from a Brazilian construction firm, making him the nation’s latest former leader to head behind bars. https://t.co/v3NUykrmMf

— NBC News (@NBCNews) April 16, 2025

Corruption Scandal

Odebrecht’s corruption scandal is one of the largest in history, affecting multiple Latin American countries. The couple’s trial began in 2022, following their accusation of accepting $3 million from Odebrecht and $200,000 from Chavez. Their legal team argues they are victims of political persecution, and Humala intends to appeal the sentence. He described the sentence as “excessive.”

A number of Peruvian presidents since 2001, such as Alejandro Toledo, Martin Vizcarra, and Alberto Fujimori, have faced charges related to corruption. Humala is the third former Peruvian president to be imprisoned for corruption within the last two decades, demonstrating a concerning trend in the country’s leadership.

Imprisonment and Asylum

After the court ruling, Humala and Heredia were escorted from the courtroom by police for immediate imprisonment. Heredia sought asylum at the Brazilian embassy in Lima, citing the 1954 Convention on Diplomatic Asylum. Meanwhile, her brother, Ilán Heredia, also received a 12-year sentence for similar charges.