Former Peruvian President Ollanta Humala has secured a major legal victory after Peru’s Constitutional Court overturned his 15-year corruption sentence, ruling that the criminal proceedings against him were invalid.
The decision clears the way for Humala’s release from prison and marks a significant development in one of Peru’s most closely watched political corruption cases.
Ollanta Humala Corruption Sentence Declared Invalid
The Constitutional Court ruled that the legal process leading to Ollanta Humala’s corruption sentence should be declared null and void.
Humala had been convicted in 2025 of accepting illegal campaign funding from former Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez and Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht during his 2006 and 2011 presidential campaigns.
His lawyers had appealed the verdict, arguing the prosecution failed to prove the allegations under Peruvian law.
Court Says Campaign Contributions Were Not Money Laundering
Following the ruling, Humala’s lawyer Julio Espinoza Goyena stated that the court determined the campaign donations did not amount to money laundering.
According to the defense, the Criminal Chamber handling the case should now dismiss all charges and order Humala’s immediate release from Barbadillo Prison in Lima.
Local media reported that prison authorities are expected to begin the release process once the court’s decision is formally implemented.
Nadine Heredia Also Benefits From Decision
Humala’s wife, Nadine Heredia, had also received a 15-year prison sentence after being convicted alongside the former president.
Before serving her sentence, Heredia sought asylum at the Brazilian Embassy in Lima and was later granted safe passage to Brazil.
The Constitutional Court’s ruling also affects the legal case against her.
Odebrecht Scandal Continues to Shape Peru’s Politics
The case formed part of the wider Odebrecht corruption scandal, one of Latin America’s largest political bribery investigations.
Several former Peruvian presidents have faced legal action connected to the Brazilian construction company.
Those include:
- Alejandro Toledo, who was sentenced to more than 20 years in prison.
- Alan García, who died by suicide in 2019 before his arrest.
- Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, who remains under investigation.
The scandal exposed millions of dollars in alleged illegal payments made to politicians across Latin America.
Humala Always Denied the Allegations
Throughout the investigation, Humala consistently denied receiving illegal funds.
He argued that both he and his wife were victims of political persecution rather than criminal wrongdoing.
The former army officer first gained national attention after leading a military uprising against then-President Alberto Fujimori in 2000.
He later served as Peru’s president from 2011 to 2016 after defeating Keiko Fujimori in the presidential election.
Following the Constitutional Court’s decision, Peru’s Criminal Chamber is expected to formally dismiss the previous judgment and authorize Humala’s release.
The ruling represents one of the most significant legal reversals in Peru’s recent anti-corruption efforts and is likely to reignite debate over the country’s handling of politically sensitive corruption cases.
