Former Peruvian First Lady Seeks Asylum Following Corruption Sentencing

As former President Ollanta Humala and his wife, Nadine Heredia, are sentenced to prison for money laundering, Heredia seeks asylum in the Brazilian Embassy in Lima amid a history of corruption among Peruvian leaders.

In a dramatic turn of events in Peru, former First Lady Nadine Heredia sought asylum at the Brazilian Embassy in Lima on Tuesday, following a court ruling that sentenced her and her husband, ex-President Ollanta Humala, to 15 years in prison for money laundering. This development highlights ongoing corruption issues within the Peruvian political sphere, as Humala becomes the third former president to face incarceration on such charges over the past two decades.

On Tuesday, a court delivered a guilty verdict to both Humala and Heredia, convicting them of laundering nearly $3 million in illicit contributions from Odebrecht, a notorious Brazilian construction firm, to fund Humala's first presidential campaign in 2011. The case is part of a broader investigation linking Odebrecht to numerous bribery scandals across Latin America, showcasing the region's struggles with political corruption.

Humala, who served as president from 2011 to 2016 and once commanded the Peruvian army, was also found guilty of receiving substantial sums from the Venezuelan government during his unsuccessful 2006 campaign. Both he and Heredia have adamantly denied the allegations of wrongdoing.

Amid pervasive corruption and political instability, Humala is among several former Peruvian presidents who have faced jail time. The sheer number of convictions has prompted Peruvian authorities to repurpose a former police academy into a facility dedicated to housing these political figures.

As law enforcement escorted Humala from the courtroom following the sentencing announcement, Heredia did not attend the hearing, where a judge mandated their immediate incarceration. The couple's situation serves as a stark reminder of Peru's entrenched political dysfunction and the pervasive corruption challenges that continue to plague the nation.