Two former presidents of Peru are facing different fortunes in separate corruption cases.
On Wednesday, an appeals court ordered the release of ex-president Martín Vizcarra, who had been placed in pretrial detention last month over bribery allegations. The court had earlier considered him a flight risk.
Vizcarra, who governed Peru between 2018 and 2020, is accused of accepting 2.3 million soles (about $640,000) in kickbacks linked to public works contracts while serving as governor of Moquegua region more than a decade ago. He has consistently denied any wrongdoing.
The 62-year-old had been held in a prison that also houses three other former presidents — Alejandro Toledo, Ollanta Humala and Pedro Castillo.
In a separate ruling on Wednesday, Toledo, who governed from 2001 to 2006, was sentenced to 13 years in prison for money laundering in connection with payments from Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht. The 79-year-old is already serving a 20-year, six-month sentence for corruption.
Peruvian law, however, stipulates that only the harshest sentence applies, meaning his latest punishment will not extend his time behind bars.
Attending the hearing virtually, Toledo expressed dismay at the decision. “I am deeply disappointed in the judicial system,” he said, vowing to appeal the ruling.
Prosecutors allege that Toledo received around $35 million in bribes from Odebrecht, money he allegedly channelled into property purchases.
