Ollanta Humala Released After Overturned Corruption Sentence

On Friday, Peru’s former president Ollanta Humala was released from prison after the Constitutional Court declared his 15-year sentence for money laundering null and void. This sentence was connected to a significant graft scandal involving the Brazilian construction group Odebrecht.

Humala, who served as president from 2011 to 2016, was the first Peruvian ex-leader to be tried in this scandal, which has implicated three other former presidents. He and his wife, Nadine Heredia, were convicted for receiving illegal contributions from Odebrecht and the Venezuelan government during two presidential campaigns.

Following her conviction, Heredia sought asylum in Brazil and remains there. Humala left the Lima prison at approximately 7:40 pm (0040 GMT Saturday) under police escort, greeted by a crowd of supporters.

The ruling that overturned his sentence was published on Thursday, and it comes in the context of Odebrecht's admission to paying $29 million in bribes to Peruvian officials between 2005 and 2014.