“Former Peruvian President Alejandro Toledo Extradited to Lima After Six-Year Run from Justice”

Alejandro Toledo, who was (centrist) president of Peru from 2001 to 2006, arrived in the early morning at Lima airport on Sunday April 23, after being extradited by the United States where he had fled there. six years. The 77-year-old former head of state was filmed by Peruvian television with his back bent, his head bowed and firmly escorted by police officers and US representatives. A black jacket hid his handcuffed hands.

This extradition puts an end to a procedure of six years. Alejandro Toledo was one of the most wanted people in the Peruvian justice, accused of money laundering, influence peddling and collusion, offenses for which he risks up to twenty years in prison. In 2017, the Peruvian authorities offered a reward of 100,000 soles (about 24,000 euros) for information on his whereabouts. He was finally arrested in the United States in 2019 and sent to prison for a year, before being assigned to residence for health reasons, during the Covid-19 pandemic. The extradition procedure was then delayed by numerous appeals from his lawyers.

Alejandro Toledo is accused of having received up to 35 million dollars (32 million euros) in bribes by the Brazilian manufacturer Odebrecht, in exchange for the granting of a public contract. The construction giant is at the heart of a vast corruption scandal in South America, for which two other former Peruvian presidents are also being prosecuted: Ollanta Humala (2011-2016) and Pedro Pablo Kuczynski (2016-2018). Another, Alan Garcia (1985-1990 and 2006-2011), committed suicide the day of his arrest, in April 2019.

Alejandro Toledo joined the Barbadillo prison, east of Lima, where two other former Peruvian presidents are incarcerated: Alberto Fujimori (1990-2000) who is serving a twenty-five year prison sentence for crimes against humanity and corruptionet Pedro Castillo (2021-2022) in pre-trial detention for the leader of “rebellion”, after his failed coup of December 7, 2022.

“Strong Evidence”

Sunday, some supporters of Alejandro Toledo had gathered near the police center where he was interrogated, north of Lima. On the placards held up, one could read: “we demand justice” for the one whom his supporters consider to be the victim of judicial persecution. His brother, Pedro Toledo, claimed that the ex-president had cancer – the reason why the defense lawyer asked for his house arrest – and claimed his innocence. Alejandro Toledo has always denied the crimes attributed to him.

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