Peru's Landmark Corruption Trial: Alejandro Toledo Sentenced

Former Peruvian President Alejandro Toledo was sentenced to over 20 years in prison for accepting $35 million in bribes from Brazilian company Odebrecht, linked to the Lava Jato corruption scandal. Toledo, aged 78, denied the charges during his trial and is currently battling cancer.

In a historic ruling, former Peruvian President Alejandro Toledo has been sentenced to 20 years and six months in prison for his involvement in a bribery scandal with Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht.

The 78-year-old ex-leader was found guilty of accepting $35 million in bribes, marking Peru's first conviction related to the extensive Lava Jato corruption case. While in office from 2001 to 2006, Toledo allowed the now-renamed Novonor to win a lucrative contract to build a vital road linking Peru to Brazil.

Though Toledo vehemently denied the charges of money laundering and collusion during the year-long trial, his plea to serve his sentence at home due to his ongoing battle with cancer was met with public and legal scrutiny.

(With inputs from agencies.)