A Peruvian court has sentenced former Peruvian President Ollanta Humala to 15 years in prison in a case of illegal campaign financing, Reuters reported, quoted by BTA.
Ollanta Humala was accused of receiving illegal funding for his election campaign from the Brazilian construction company “Odebreh“, known today as “Novonor“. The money was received for the campaign for the 2011 elections won by Humala.
The former president's wife - Nadine Heredia - was also charged in the case. She also received a 15-year prison sentence.
The former president, a retired military officer, led Peru from 2011 to 2016. He is likely to serve his sentence in a police facility built specifically to house former Peruvian leaders. Former presidents Alejandro Toledo and Pedro Castillo are also behind bars there. Former president Alberto Fujimori was serving his sentence there until his release in 2023.
The trial against Ollanta Humala and his wife lasted three years. Humala says it is a political persecution against him.
Peru's Foreign Ministry said that after the verdict was pronounced, the former first lady went to the Brazilian embassy in Quito and requested asylum there, Reuters reported.