Law & Justice
Ollanta Humala freed after graft sentence quashed
Former Peruvian president Ollanta Humala was released from prison in Lima on Friday after his 15-year money-laundering sentence in a corruption case linked to Brazilian construction group Odebrecht was overturned.
Humala, 64, left the prison in a vehicle under police escort at about 7:40 pm local time. Supporters gathered outside the facility.
Peru's Constitutional Court declared Humala's sentence null and void in a ruling published Thursday. The court had found well-founded a habeas corpus petition filed by Humala in January.
Humala led Peru from 2011 to 2016. He and his wife, Nadine Heredia, were convicted last year of receiving illegal contributions from Odebrecht and the Venezuelan government for two presidential campaigns.
“We have been victims of political and judicial persecution,” Humala told reporters outside the prison.
Heredia sought asylum in Brazil after her conviction and remains there.
Humala was the first former Peruvian leader to face trial in the Odebrecht corruption scandal, which has also involved three other former presidents.
Odebrecht agreed in 2016 to pay $3.5 billion in penalties after spending $788 million in bribes to foreign leaders and government officials to win infrastructure projects in Latin America. The company admitted paying at least $29 million in bribes to Peruvian officials between 2005 and 2014.
Update
Ollanta Humala was released from prison in Lima on Friday evening.
He left by vehicle under police escort at about 7:40 pm local time.
Supporters were present outside the prison.
Humala told reporters he had been a victim of political and judicial persecution.
Source note: AFP news report published on 1 August 2026 at 02:09:50 UTC.
Update
Humala filed a habeas corpus petition in January, which the Constitutional Court found well-founded because his rights were infringed.
Humala's lawyer Wilfredo Pedraza said the ruling must be presented to the appeal panel handling the case for his release to be ordered.
Humala is being held in a special prison for former presidents in eastern Lima.
Nadine Heredia, Humala's wife, was also sentenced to 15 years but sought asylum in the Brazilian embassy after the verdict.
Source note: AFP news report published on 31 July 2026 at 05:31:43 UTC.
Update
Peru's constitutional court quashed a 15-year prison sentence against Ollanta Humala.
The court ordered Humala's release.
The ruling declared the entire criminal proceedings against Humala null and void.
The case involved a corruption scandal linked to Brazilian construction group Odebrecht and the Venezuelan government.
The ruling was dated July 15 and was published Thursday.
Source note: AFP news report published on 31 July 2026 at 04:41:48 UTC.
Source
AFP news report published on .