Peru's Constitutional Court frees ex-president Ollanta Humala, overturns money‑laundering conviction
Peru's Constitutional Court ruled that former president Ollanta Humala's 15‑year money‑laundering sentence was unconstitutional because the alleged conduct was not defined as a crime under Peruvian law at the time. The decision nullified the entire criminal process, leading to Humala's immediate release from Barbadillo prison in Lima.
The ruling also benefits his wife, former first lady Nadine Heredia, who remains in Brazil after fleeing the country. Their convictions were based on accusations of receiving illicit campaign funds from Brazil's construction giant Odebrecht and from Venezuelan sources. Following the court's judgment, Heredia's lawyers have asked the appellate court to extend the nullification to her own 15‑year sentence. The judgment has sparked a heated debate in Peru over impunity and the future of anti‑corruption prosecutions.
Entities: Constitutional Court of Peru · Nadine Heredia · Odebrecht · Ollanta Humala · Peru
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 2 SOURCES] The ruling has sparked debate in Peru over impunity and the future of anti‑corruption prosecutions. (public reaction)
- [● 2 SOURCES] The decision also benefits Humala's wife, former first lady Nadine Heredia, who remains in Brazil. (court ruling effect)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Peru's Constitutional Court annulled Ollanta Humala's 15‑year money‑laundering conviction. (court decision)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Nadine Heredia's legal team filed a request to extend the court's ruling to nullify her own 15‑year sentence. (legal filing)
- [● 2 SOURCES] Ollanta Humala was released from Barbadillo prison in Lima after the ruling. (release order)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The court found that the legal concept of 'receptación patrimonial' was not part of Peruvian law until November 2016. (court reasoning)
- [● 2 SOURCES] The court ruled the alleged conduct was not a crime under Peruvian law at the time it occurred. (court reasoning)
- [● 3 SOURCES] The convictions were based on alleged illicit campaign funds from Brazilian construction firm Odebrecht and Venezuelan sources. (prosecution allegations)