Peru's Ex-President Humala Gets 15 Years for Corruption Charges

• Apr 16, 2025

Former Peruvian President Ollanta Humala has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for corruption linked to the Odebrecht scandal.

Humala, who served as president from 2011 to 2016, was found guilty of accepting illegal campaign funds from the Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht. The case is part of a broader corruption investigation that has rocked Peru’s political scene for years and implicated multiple former leaders.

The court ruling marks a significant moment in Peru’s fight against high-level corruption. Humala, a former army officer, made history in 2022 when he became the first ex-president in the country to stand trial over the Odebrecht affair. The scandal, which has had ripple effects across Latin America, involved the company paying millions of dollars in bribes to secure public contracts in various countries.

Prosecutors argued that Humala and his wife, Nadine Heredia, received $3 million from Odebrecht to fund his 2011 presidential campaign. In return, it was alleged, Odebrecht was favored in future government contracts. The former president denied any wrongdoing and insisted the funds were lawful campaign donations.

However, the court found enough evidence to convict him. Heredia also faced charges and was sentenced to 12 years in prison, underscoring the couple’s central role in the case.

The verdict adds Humala to a growing list of Peruvian presidents who have faced legal consequences over corruption. Alejandro Toledo, Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, and Alan García — who died by suicide in 2019 as police arrived to arrest him — have all been connected to the Odebrecht scandal in various ways.

Humala’s sentencing sends a strong message about accountability in Peru, where public frustration over corruption remains high. The judgment also highlights the depth of Odebrecht’s influence and how it shaped political campaigns and public policy through illicit financial backing.

As the country continues to grapple with political instability and mistrust in its institutions, the case against Humala may mark a turning point in efforts to confront corruption at the highest levels of government.