Former Peruvian President Alejandro Toledo has been extradited from the United States and arrived in Peru’s capital Lima on Sunday, accompanied by Interpol agents. He has been taken to a prison where he will be held in pre-trial detention for 18 months. Toledo is accused of corruption and money laundering in connection with tens of millions of dollars in suspected bribes from Brazilian construction company Odebrecht in exchange for public works contracts.
Toledo, who was president of Peru from 2001 to 2006, denies any wrongdoing. Prosecutors allege they have witnesses who can prove his guilt and are seeking a 20-year sentence. The crimes he is accused of were discovered during investigations into the “Car Wash” corruption scandal.
Toledo’s lawyers have cited health concerns and have indicated that they will request that he be put under house arrest instead of being held in prison. It is worth noting that two other former presidents, Pedro Castillo and Alberto Fujimori, are also currently being held in the same facility.
Toledo’s extradition was the result of a lengthy legal battle in the United States. He had been living in California since 2017 and was arrested in July 2019 at the request of the Peruvian government. The extradition process was delayed by various legal challenges, including a request for asylum, which was ultimately denied. Toledo’s extradition is seen as a significant victory for Peru’s efforts to combat corruption. Odebrecht has been implicated in bribery scandals across Latin America and has agreed to pay billions of dollars in fines to settle cases in several countries. The corruption scandal has rocked Peru’s political establishment, and the arrest and extradition of a former president is seen as a strong signal that no one is above the law.
