Peru Court Sentences Ex-President Humala, Wife to 15 Years for Money Laundering

Former Peruvian President Ollanta Humala and his wife, Nadine Heredia, have been sentenced to 15 years in prison for money laundering linked to illicit campaign financing from the Brazilian construction firm Odebrecht. The court found them guilty of receiving illegal contributions for Humala's presidential campaigns in 2006 and 2011, with prosecutors initially seeking longer sentences of 20 years for Humala and 26 years for Heredia. Following the verdict, Heredia sought asylum in the Brazilian embassy in Lima due to health concerns, while Humala's defense plans to appeal the ruling, claiming the charges are politically motivated. This case is part of a broader corruption scandal that has implicated several former Peruvian presidents, highlighting systemic corruption within the country's political elite. Investigations into other former leaders involved in the Odebrecht scandal continue, reflecting the extensive impact of this corruption affair across Latin America. Humala and Heredia maintain their innocence amid the ongoing legal proceedings.