Peru's Constitutional Court Overturns 15-Year Prison Sentence for Former President Ollanta Humala
Peru's Constitutional Court has officially overturned a 15-year prison sentence for former President Ollanta Humala, declaring the entire criminal proceedings against him null and void. The ruling, issued in July 2026, determined that the campaign contributions Humala received from the Brazilian construction firm Odebrecht and the Venezuelan government did not legally constitute money laundering. The court found that the prosecution failed to demonstrate the illicit origin of the funds or prove that Humala was aware of their illicit nature at the time they were received. Ollanta Humala served in prison at the Barbadillo facility in Lima, where he was convicted in 2025 for accepting illegal funds to finance his 2006 and 2011 presidential campaigns. While his wife, Nadine Heredia, was also found guilty of money laundering, she has already secured asylum in Brazil. The decision marks a significant legal victory for Humala, who described himself as a victim of political and judicial persecution. The ruling also impacts the broader Odebrecht scandal, which has implicated several other former Peruvian leaders.