Peru’s ex-president Toledo gets more than 20 years in prison in case linked to corruption scandal
NPR Online NewsOct 20
Peru: Ex-President Toledo Given 20 Years in Prison for Corruption
Above: Former Peruvian Pres. Alejandro Toledo at his sentencing hearing on Oct. 21, 2024. Image copyright: Klebher Vasquez/Contributor/Anadolu via Getty Images
The Facts
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. He was found to have taken bribes in exchange for contracts to build two highway sections.
The Spin
Narrative A
This case was cut and dried, with Odebrecht admitting to paying hundreds of millions in bribes to public officials, including the former president. But it's still a victory for prosecutors in their fight against the plague of corruption, as there have been several recent bribery convictions.
Narrative B
There are still several questions surrounding Toledo's guilt. Notably he lived an incredibly modest lifestyle for someone who allegedly took millions in bribes. It seems unfair to force him to live out his final days behind bars, especially because he has severe health issues.