Ollanta Humala and Nadine Heredia Sentenced for Corruption in Peru

The former leader of Peru and his wife, found guilty of accepting illegal funds, will serve lengthy prison sentences for their roles in high-profile corruption cases

Peru’s ex-president, Ollanta Humala, and his wife, Nadine Heredia, have been sentenced to 15 years in prison following a conviction for money laundering linked to campaign financing. A verdict delivered by a Lima court found that both had accepted illegal contributions from Odebrecht, a Brazilian construction giant, during their electoral runs in 2006 and 2011. While Heredia was granted asylum in Brazil and allowed to travel there with their son, Humala maintained his innocence throughout the proceedings. Prosecutors initially sought harsher sentences of 20 and 26.5 years for the couple. The protracted trial spanned over three years, culminating in yesterday's ruling. Humala's political career began in the early 2000s with a notable military revolt against former president Alberto Fujimori. His subsequent presidential campaigns, influenced by Hugo Chávez and later modeled after Lula da Silva’s policies, saw initial support but also faced challenges due to social unrest and legal scrutiny post-presidency. The investigation intensified after Odebrecht’s admissions of extensive bribery across Latin America, implicating several political figures including the Humalas.