Peru’s ex-president Toledo gets more than 20 years in prison in case linked to corruption scandal
NPR Online NewsOCT 12 2024
The Superior Court in Lima, Peru, sentenced former Pres. Alejandro Toledo, 78, to 20.5 years in prison after he was found guilty of accepting $35M in bribes from Brazilian construction company Odebrecht.
During his 2001-2006 presidency, Toledo signed a deal with Odebrecht to build a road connecting the southern coast to western Brazil's Amazon region, during which he was found to have taken bribes in exchange for contracts to build two highway sections.During his 2001-2006 presidency, Toledo signed a deal with Odebrecht to build a road connecting the southern coast to western Brazil's Amazon region. He was found to have taken bribes in exchange for contracts to build two highway sections.
According to Judge Inés Rojas, Toledo’s actions amounted to "defrauding the state" and violating the trust of Peruvians who entrusted him with the responsibility of overseeing public finances as their president.
TheThis case was cut and dried, with Odebrecht admitting to paying hundreds of millions in bribes to public officials, including the former president. ThisBut isit's alsostill the latest in a seriesvictory of bribery scandals in Peru, which makes this a win for prosecutors in their fight against the plague of corruption as they've achieved several recent bribery convictions.
There are still several questions surrounding Toledo's guilt,. mostNotably notablyhe thatlived an incredibly modest lifestyle for asomeone man who allegedly took millions of dollars in bribes,. heToledo alwaysrose livedfrom annothing incrediblyto modestbe life.president Afterand building a successful career from nothing, it seems unfair to placelive himout his days behind bars for the rest of his days, especially asbecause he dealshas with severe health issues.