Ollanta Humala and his wife Nadine Heredia were sentenced to 15 years in prison for laundering money tied to a corruption scandal. Heredia has fled to the Brazilian Embassy in search of asylum, marking another chapter in Peru's ongoing struggle with political corruption.
Asylum at the Brazilian Embassy: Peru’s Ex-First Lady and President Sentenced
Asylum at the Brazilian Embassy: Peru’s Ex-First Lady and President Sentenced
Following a conviction for money laundering, former First Lady Nadine Heredia seeks refuge as her husband, ex-President Ollanta Humala, faces prison time.
In a dramatic turn of events, former First Lady Nadine Heredia of Peru has sought refuge in the Brazilian Embassy in Lima after a court sentenced her and her husband, ex-President Ollanta Humala, to 15 years in prison for money laundering. The couple was convicted for illegally funding Humala’s presidential campaigns, primarily through nearly $3 million in contributions from Odebrecht, a Brazilian construction company embroiled in corruption across Latin America.
Humala, who served as Peru's president from 2011 to 2016, denied any wrongdoing, alongside Heredia. However, their incarceration is a stark reminder of Peru's persistent issues with corruption, which have seen multiple former presidents face jail time over the past two decades.
The sentencing of Humala now places him among a notable list of six former Peruvian leaders who have faced legal consequences related to corruption, prompting the authorities to repurpose a former police academy into a specialized facility to detain these figures. While Humala was led away by police from the courtroom, Heredia's absence raised concerns about her safety and her subsequent flight to the Brazilian Embassy that same day.
With their convictions highlighting the widespread corruption issues in Peru, the future remains uncertain for both Humala and Heredia as they navigate these serious legal challenges.
