Former Peruvian President Humala sentenced to 15 years in prison

According to reports in the Peruvian press, the National High Court ruled that former Peruvian President Ollanta Humala and his wife, Nadine Heredia, received approximately $3 million in illegal donations from the Brazilian construction company Odebrecht and the Venezuelan government of the time during their 2006 and 2011 election campaigns.

Following the court's decision for the "immediate provisional execution of the sentence," Humala, who was present at the hearing, was handed over by police to officials from the National Penitentiary Institute (INPE). Humala's wife, Heredia, was also found guilty for managing the election campaign and was sentenced to 15 years in prison.

Judge Nayko Coronado stated in her announcement that Humala would serve his sentence, saying, "The crime of money laundering has been committed in this case. Various acts aimed at laundering money from illegal sources have been proven." Heredia has requested asylum at the Brazilian embassy.

Heredia, who attended the hearing via video conference, requested asylum at the Brazilian Embassy in the capital, Lima, after the verdict was read. Meanwhile, Heredia's brother, Ilan Heredia, also received a 12-year prison sentence in the same case.

In a statement regarding the matter, the Peruvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that Nadine Heredia is at the Brazilian Embassy and noted that the governments of Brazil and Peru are in constant contact regarding the situation. The statement read, "Ms. Heredia has requested asylum in Brazil in accordance with the 1954 Convention on Diplomatic Asylum, to which Peru and Brazil are parties."

News Source: 12punto