In a dramatic turn of events, the indictment of former President Ollanta Humala and his wife, Nadine Heredia, highlights Peru's ongoing struggle with political corruption.
Peru's Former First Lady Seeks Asylum After Prison Sentence for Money Laundering
Peru's Former First Lady Seeks Asylum After Prison Sentence for Money Laundering
Former President Ollanta Humala and Nadine Heredia face 15 years in prison, as Heredia flees to the Brazilian Embassy for refuge.
Former first lady Nadine Heredia has taken refuge in the Brazilian Embassy in Lima on Tuesday after both she and her husband, former President Ollanta Humala, were sentenced to 15 years in prison for money laundering. The sentence comes as part of a broader investigation into corruption involving the Brazilian construction company Odebrecht, which has been implicated in bribery scandals across Latin America.
Ollanta Humala, who served as president from 2011 to 2016, was found guilty, along with his wife, of accepting nearly $3 million in illegal contributions during his campaign. These funds included significant donations from Odebrecht, known for its extensive corruption practices, as well as money from the Venezuelan government under former President Hugo Chávez for an unsuccessful 2006 campaign.
Despite the convictions, both Humala and Heredia maintain their innocence, denying any allegations of wrongdoing. This case adds to a troubling trend in Peru, where a succession of former presidents has faced criminal allegations related to corruption. Over the past two decades, a notable six former heads of state have encountered similar legal troubles, prompting authorities to repurpose a former police academy into a facility for imprisoning them.
At the time of the sentencing, police escorted Humala, aged 62, from the courtroom, while Heredia's absence from the proceedings raised additional questions. The couple's case not only exposes systemic corruption within Peru's political landscape but also reflects a deep-seated struggle to establish a robust legal framework to combat such malfeasance.
Ollanta Humala, who served as president from 2011 to 2016, was found guilty, along with his wife, of accepting nearly $3 million in illegal contributions during his campaign. These funds included significant donations from Odebrecht, known for its extensive corruption practices, as well as money from the Venezuelan government under former President Hugo Chávez for an unsuccessful 2006 campaign.
Despite the convictions, both Humala and Heredia maintain their innocence, denying any allegations of wrongdoing. This case adds to a troubling trend in Peru, where a succession of former presidents has faced criminal allegations related to corruption. Over the past two decades, a notable six former heads of state have encountered similar legal troubles, prompting authorities to repurpose a former police academy into a facility for imprisoning them.
At the time of the sentencing, police escorted Humala, aged 62, from the courtroom, while Heredia's absence from the proceedings raised additional questions. The couple's case not only exposes systemic corruption within Peru's political landscape but also reflects a deep-seated struggle to establish a robust legal framework to combat such malfeasance.
