Peru sentences Ollanta Humala to 15 years over Odebrecht bribery scandal

Former Peruvian president Ollanta Humala and his wife Nadine Heredia found guilty of laundering illegal Odebrecht contributions.

Peru's former president Ollanta Humala speaks on the phone as he leaves a sentencing hearing at a court in Lima on April 15, 2025. Photo by Connie France/AFP

By Anna Fadiah and Hayu Andini

In a major legal milestone in Latin America’s most far-reaching corruption saga, former Peruvian president Ollanta Humala was sentenced on Tuesday to 15 years in prison over his involvement in the Odebrecht bribery scandal. The court also handed down a 15-year sentence to his wife, Nadine Heredia, for their roles in laundering millions of dollars in illegal campaign contributions tied to the Brazilian construction giant and the Venezuelan government.

Humala becomes first Peruvian ex-president convicted in Odebrecht case

At 62 years old, Humala was taken into custody immediately after the verdict was read in a packed courtroom in Lima. Judge Nayko Coronado also ordered the arrest of Heredia, who was absent from the hearing. Their convictions mark the first time a Peruvian former head of state has been found guilty in connection to Odebrecht’s widespread bribery operation, though several other former presidents have faced charges.

According to prosecutors, Humala and Heredia received at least $3 million in illicit campaign contributions from Odebrecht to fund Humala’s successful 2011 presidential bid. Additional charges were tied to nearly $200,000 in support sent by then-Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez for Humala’s unsuccessful 2006 campaign. The funds, prosecutors argued, were hidden through shell companies and used to purchase real estate.

A pattern of high-level corruption

Humala’s conviction is a significant moment in the ongoing reckoning with the Odebrecht scandal in Peru. The corruption case has embroiled a string of leaders and political elites across Latin America. In Peru alone, three other former presidents have been implicated.

Alan Garcia, a two-time president, tragically died by suicide in 2019 when police arrived at his home to arrest him for his suspected involvement. Alejandro Toledo, who governed from 2001 to 2006, was sentenced in 2023 to more than 20 years in prison for accepting massive bribes. Another former president, Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, who served from 2016 to 2018, remains under investigation.

The Odebrecht bribery scandal, often referred to by legal scholars as the largest foreign bribery case in history, has left few political figures untouched. In 2016, the company reached a historic agreement to pay $3.5 billion in penalties in the United States, Brazil, and Switzerland. It admitted to disbursing over $788 million in bribes to government officials across at least 12 countries, securing billions in public infrastructure contracts in return.

In Peru alone, Odebrecht acknowledged paying at least $29 million in bribes between 2005 and 2014 — a timeline that spans multiple administrations.

Prosecutors aimed for longer prison terms

While the judge handed down 15-year sentences for both Humala and Heredia, prosecutors had requested more severe penalties. They initially sought 20 years for Humala and 26 years for Heredia, arguing that the pair operated a well-organized scheme to disguise and launder funds intended to buy political influence.

Heredia faced an additional charge of concealing real estate purchases with funds linked to the illicit campaign contributions. The court concluded that both individuals had actively participated in operations that diverted foreign money into Peruvian politics — undermining transparency and public trust.

In a brief statement following the ruling, Humala’s legal team vowed to appeal the verdict. “We believe the sentence is unfounded and fails to consider evidence presented during trial,” one of his lawyers told reporters outside the courthouse.

Humala's political rise and downfall

Ollanta Humala, a former military officer with nationalist leanings, rose to prominence in the early 2000s by aligning himself with leftist ideals and criticizing Peru’s neoliberal economic policies. After a failed bid for the presidency in 2006, he mounted a successful campaign in 2011, defeating conservative candidate Keiko Fujimori in a tense runoff.

During his five-year term, Humala tried to balance investor-friendly policies with social programs aimed at reducing poverty. But critics say his administration failed to implement lasting reforms, and his popularity declined sharply by the end of his term.

His wife, Nadine Heredia, played a prominent and controversial role during his presidency, often seen as wielding significant influence behind the scenes. Her increasingly public political profile drew scrutiny, especially regarding the couple’s finances.

Fujimori and other political figures also linked to Odebrecht

Keiko Fujimori, Humala’s main rival in the 2011 election, has also faced legal scrutiny for her ties to Odebrecht. She spent 16 months in pre-trial detention while under investigation for allegedly receiving illegal campaign financing from the company. Though she denies any wrongdoing, her political movement has struggled to regain its previous strength.

The web of Odebrecht-linked corruption cases in Peru has cast a long shadow over its political system. Many Peruvians now view political elites as complicit in a system that traded public contracts for personal and party enrichment.

A justice system under pressure

The Humala verdict underscores Peru’s ongoing attempts to hold its leaders accountable. However, the judiciary continues to face immense pressure to maintain independence in politically charged cases. Anti-corruption advocates have hailed the ruling as a long-overdue step, though some have warned that appeals could drag out accountability.

Public frustration remains high. Multiple presidents, lawmakers, and party officials have been implicated in corruption in the last two decades. Surveys show that public trust in government institutions remains alarmingly low, and Peru has seen waves of protests demanding deeper reforms and greater transparency.

Odebrecht’s legacy and the future of political finance

The sentencing of Humala and Heredia adds to the growing legal legacy of the Odebrecht scandal. It is a stark reminder of the vulnerability of Latin American democracies to foreign interference and corrupt business practices.

Although Odebrecht has since rebranded as Novonor and attempted to restructure its operations, the damage done by its actions continues to reverberate across the continent. Governments throughout Latin America have since passed stricter campaign finance and anti-bribery laws, but enforcement remains uneven.

As Peru continues to grapple with its political past, the focus now turns to ensuring that future elections are free of illicit influence. Civil society organizations and watchdog groups have called for greater transparency in political donations, robust auditing mechanisms, and real consequences for corruption.

With Humala now behind bars, Peru sends a message that even the highest office in the land is not immune to justice — a precedent that may shape the region’s political culture for years to come.