Peru’s former president Ollanta Humala has been sentenced to 15 years in prison after being found guilty of receiving illegal campaign funds from Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht. His wife, Nadine Heredia, was handed the same sentence. The couple allegedly funneled millions through their political party during Humala’s presidential bids in 2006 and 2011.
Shortly after the verdict, Heredia was granted diplomatic asylum by Brazil and allowed safe passage from the Brazilian embassy in Lima, citing health-related concerns. She will travel to Brazil with their youngest son, following years of legal attempts to seek medical treatment abroad.
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The ruling adds Humala to a growing list of former Peruvian leaders convicted in connection with the sprawling Lava Jato corruption scandal. Odebrecht, now known as Novonor, previously admitted to decades of bribery across Latin America, impacting nearly every major political campaign in Peru over a 30-year period.
Humala, who served as president from 2011 to 2016, will serve his sentence at a police facility that also holds ex-presidents Alejandro Toledo and Pedro Castillo. The couple has denied the charges and announced plans to appeal the decision when the full ruling is released on April 29.
