Peruvian ex-president sentenced to 14 years in prison

TT

Published 20.07

 

Martin Vizcarra, Peru's president from 2018 to 2020, as he arrived at the court in Lima on Wednesday. Photo: Martin Mejia/AP/TT

Peruvian ex-president Martín Vizcarra has been sentenced to 14 years in prison for accepting bribes.

Vizcarra – who profiled himself as a fighter against corruption during his time as president from 2018 to 2020 – is found guilty of having received the equivalent of around six million kronor from construction companies during his time as governor of the Moquegua region from 2011 to 2014.

In exchange, the companies were given priority in public procurement.

Peru has been rocked by political turmoil for a long time and has been led by six different presidents since 2018, following several impeachment trials and resignations.

Three former presidents are already in prison, Alejandro Toledo (2001–2006), Ollanta Humala (2011–2016) and Pedro Castillo (2021–2022).