In a major corruption case that has rocked Peru, a former president and his wife have been sentenced to 15 years in prison. They were found guilty of money laundering. This means they secretly moved large amounts of money that came from illegal sources.
The court said the couple accepted millions of dollars from a big construction company in Brazil. They also received money from a foreign government to help pay for political campaigns. These were times when the former president was trying to win elections.
The court found enough proof that the money was not legal. The couple used this cash to help them gain power and hide where the money really came from. Even though they said they were innocent, the court did not agree.
On the day of the court’s decision, the former president was arrested in the courtroom. His wife was not there. After the sentence was read, the judge ordered her arrest as well.
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Secret Deals and Hidden Money
This story is part of a larger scandal that has affected many leaders in Peru. A Brazilian construction company admitted that it gave money to politicians in exchange for winning government projects. This company has been involved in many shady deals across different countries.
In this case, the company gave $3 million to help the former president win the 2011 election. This money was not declared, which made it illegal. Some money also came from a foreign leader who supported him years earlier, during a failed election run in 2006.
The court also said that the wife helped cover up the money trail. She was accused of hiding the purchase of expensive properties using the illegal funds. Because of this, she was given the same prison sentence as her husband.
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After the sentence was announced, it was revealed that she had gone to the Brazilian embassy in Lima and asked for asylum. This means she asked for protection so she would not be arrested in Peru.
A Bigger Scandal Across the Nation
This is not the first time a former leader in Peru has been caught up in the same scandal. In fact, several other ex-presidents have also been investigated for taking bribes from the same Brazilian company. One even ended his life when the police came to arrest him.
Another former leader was sentenced to over 20 years in prison for accepting millions in bribes. A fourth one is still being investigated.
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The company behind all this, which builds roads and bridges, admitted to paying nearly $30 million to officials in Peru. They did this so they could win contracts to build projects, even if they didn’t deserve them.
The case has shown how deep corruption can go, reaching the very top levels of government. It has led to public anger and more questions about how money influences politics.
The couple still says they did nothing wrong. Their lawyers said they plan to appeal the decision. But for now, the former president is in jail, and his wife is being sought by police. The court’s ruling marks one of the most serious punishments ever handed down to leaders in the country’s recent history.
