A Peruvian court has handed down a sentence of more than 20 years in prison to former president Alejandro Toledo for his involvement in a corruption scandal with construction giant Odebrecht. Toledo, who served as the Peruvian president from 2001 to 2006, was found guilty of accepting millions of dollars in bribes from the company.

The Superior Court upheld the prosecution’s recommendation for Toledo’s prison term during a hearing attended by the former president. Odebrecht, now known as Novonor, made headlines for its widespread corruption across Latin America, paying off government officials and others between 2001 and 2016.

The scandal involving Odebrecht has highlighted the pervasive issue of corruption in the region, with the company being a symbol of illicit activities. The case against Toledo is just one example of the ongoing efforts to hold those involved in corruption to account.

Stay tuned for further updates on this developing story…

jsi/msm (AP, AFP)