Peru: Ex-Pres. Toledo Given 20 Years Prison For Corruption
Peru: Ex-Pres. Toledo Given 20 Years in Prison For Corruption
The Facts
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.The Superior Court in Lima, Peru, sentenced former Pres. Alejandro Toledo, 78, to 20 years and six months 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.
The Spin
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, he always lived an incredibly modest life. AfterIt building a successful career from nothing, it seems unfair to placeforce him behindto barslive forout thehis restfinal ofdays hisbehind daysbars, especially asbecause he dealshas with severe health issues.
