Peruvian Ex-President Toledo Sentenced for Odebrecht Bribery

On Monday, a consequential chapter in Peru's political history unfolded as Alejandro Toledo, a former president, received his sentence—20 years and six months of imprisonment—for bribery charges.

Toledo, who governed from 2001 to 2006, was found guilty of accepting $35 million in bribes from Brazilian construction titan Odebrecht, now called Novonor. This marked Peru's first prominent conviction connected to Brazil's expansive Lava Jato scandal.

The financial incentives allegedly facilitated Odebrecht's securing of a critical construction contract for a road linking Peru's southern coast to Brazil's Amazon region, underscoring the extensive reach of political corruption in South America.