Peru’s former president, Ollanta Humala, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison after being found guilty of money laundering. A Lima court ruled that he accepted illegal funds from Brazil’s Odebrecht construction firm to finance his 2006 and 2011 election campaigns.
His wife, Nadine Heredia, who co-founded the Nationalist Party with him, also received a 15-year sentence for money laundering. Despite facing up to 26 years, she was granted asylum by Brazil and will be allowed to travel there with her son.
The verdict follows a trial that lasted over three years. Humala, who denied all charges, attended court in person while Heredia appeared via video.
Humala, a former army officer and one-time rebel leader, first ran for president in 2006 with support from Venezuela’s Hugo Chávez. After losing that race, he returned in 2011 with a more moderate approach, winning the presidency. His popularity declined quickly amid unrest and political struggles. Legal troubles began after his term ended in 2016, when Odebrecht admitted to widespread bribery across Latin America.
