LIMA, Peru — Ollanta Humala, Peru’s former president, was released from prison on July 31, 2026, after the country’s Constitutional Court annulled his 15-year money-laundering conviction, according to Reuters. The decision marked the end of a years-long legal battle that centered on his 2011 presidential campaign and ties to Brazilian construction firm Odebrecht, now known as Novonor.
Ollanta Humala Released After Peru Court Overturns Corruption Conviction
Conviction Over Alleged Illicit Campaign Funds
Humala, who served as president from 2011 to 2016, was initially convicted in 2025 of receiving illicit campaign contributions from Odebrecht during his successful bid for office. The court ruled that the funds constituted money laundering, a charge he consistently denied. They needed to persecute us because of our administration and our political ideology,
Humala said upon his release, citing what he described as politically motivated prosecutions.
The conviction was part of a broader investigation into Odebrecht’s operations across Latin America, which implicated multiple Peruvian political figures. The company, which admitted to widespread bribery, paid over $785 million in bribes across 12 countries, including $35 million to former president Alejandro Toledo for a highway contract, as reported by Bluewin.
Court Overturns Conviction on Legal Grounds
The Constitutional Court overturned Humala’s conviction on July 30, 2026, stating that campaign contributions did not meet the legal definition of money laundering at the time of the alleged offenses. The same reasoning was applied to former president Keiko Fujimori, whose case was dismissed last year. The Criminal Chamber currently handling the case must order the definitive dismissal of the proceedings and the FREEDOM of former President Ollanta Humala,
his lawyer, Julio Espinoza Goyena, wrote on social media after the ruling.
Humala had been serving his sentence at a special detention facility for high-profile prisoners. His release followed a three-year trial that began after an investigation launched in 2016. During the trial, Humala accused the justice system of “hostage-taking” and claimed the charges were a response to his leftist policies.
Odebrecht Scandal Unravels Peru’s Political Elite
The Odebrecht scandal has reshaped Peru’s political landscape, leading to the prosecution of multiple leaders. Alejandro Toledo, Humala’s predecessor, was sentenced to 20 years and six months in 2024 for accepting a $35 million bribe from the company. Alan García, another former president, died by suicide in 2019 as he faced arrest over similar allegations. Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, who led Peru from 2016 to 2018, was also investigated for accepting payments from Odebrecht but avoided conviction.
Humala’s case was the first of four presidential-level investigations tied to the scandal. His wife, Nadine Heredia, received a 15-year sentence in the same case but was granted asylum in Brazil by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. We have been victims of political and judicial persecution,
Humala told reporters after his release.
Implications for Peru’s Justice System
The annulment of Humala’s conviction has sparked debate over the role of the judiciary in Peru’s political conflicts. Critics argue that the courts have been used to target opponents, while supporters of the ruling see it as a correction of overreach. The case also highlights the challenges of prosecuting corruption in a country where political and economic interests often intersect.
Despite the acquittal, the Odebrecht scandal continues to cast a long shadow. Kuczynski’s case remains under review, and the Peruvian government has faced pressure to reform its legal and electoral systems. For now, Humala’s release underscores the volatile relationship between Peru’s political class and its judicial institutions.
