Peru court overturns Humala corruption conviction

Peru's Constitutional Court overturned the 15-year money laundering conviction of former President Ollanta Humala, leading to his release from prison on July 31, 2026. The court ruled that the campaign contributions he received from Odebrecht and Venezuela did not constitute money laundering under the law at the time. Humala and his wife Nadine Heredia had been convicted in 2025 for accepting illegal funds during his 2006 and 2011 presidential campaigns. Heredia, who also received a 15-year sentence, had been granted asylum in Brazil. The ruling is part of the broader Odebrecht corruption scandal that has implicated several Peruvian presidents, including Alejandro Toledo, Alan Garber, Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, and Keiko Fujimori. Humala, who served as president from 2011 to 2016, has consistently denied wrongdoing and claimed political persecution. The court's decision was based on a habeas corpus petition and declared the entire criminal proceedings null and void. Humala's release was welcomed by supporters and the new Foreign Minister Carlos Espa, while the prosecution remained silent. The case highlights ongoing legal and political tensions in Peru surrounding the Odebrecht scandal.