Ex-Peru President Toledo extradited from US to stand trial

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
23 Apr 2023 22:53

Former Peruvian President Alejandro Toledo is extradited to stand court amid reports that he might face over 20 years in prison.

In this photo released by Peru's National Police officers escort former President Alejandro Toledo upon his arrival, extradited from the United States, to the airport in Lima, April 23, 2023 (AP)

Former Peruvian President Alejandro Toledo has been extradited from the United States to the Latin American country to face an 18-month pre-trial detention over bribery, Peruvian radio RPP reported Sunday.

Toledo was President from 2001-2006, and during this tenure, according to an investigation in Peru, his activities as head of state may have contributed to a controversial bill being passed.

It is reported that it is because Toledo amended the tender rules to allow for Brazilian construction company Odebrecht to win a series of contracts worth some $500 million.

The total amount of bribes he allegedly received is estimated at $20 million, which could land him in prison for 20 years and eight months.

Toledo was ordered to serve a pre-trial detention of 18 months inside a police base on the outskirts of the capital Lima, an official statement said. That is the same prison where former presidents Alberto Fujimori and Pedro Castillo are held.

He denies the allegations of corruption amid charges of money laundering and collusion.

Toledo is the second former Peruvian president to be extradited after Fujimori was extradited from Chile. The latter is currently serving a 25-year prison sentence for human rights abuses.

Meanwhile, Castillo is in pre-trial detention while being investigated over allegations of "rebellion" after trying to illegally dissolve Congress in December.

This comes as Peru has been embroiled in a political crisis with near-daily demonstrations since December 7, when then-president Pedro Castillo was arrested after attempting to dissolve Congress and rule by decree and his then-Vice President Boluarte took over.

Demonstrators are demanding the dissolution of Congress, a new constitution, and the resignation of Boluarte.

Since the start of the protests, over 50 people had been killed during clashes with the police. The opposition held President Dina Boluarte responsible for these deaths.

Several attempts to pass a bill through Peru's legislature to allow early elections have failed, the latest being in early February, which blocked any further debate on the topic until August.