Former President of Peru Martín Vizcarra Sentenced To 14 Years.

According to the verdict, Vizcarra received a hefty sum of $676,000 in payments from various construction companies. This was allegedly in exchange for awarding them public works contracts during his tenure as governor of the southern Moquegua region, a period spanning from 2011 to 2014.

Throughout the trial, which began in October of last year, Vizcarra vehemently denied all accusations. He consistently maintained that he was the victim of political persecution. It's worth remembering that Vizcarra, who became president in 2018 after his predecessor resigned, was himself removed from office by Congress just two years later amidst ongoing graft investigations.

"This is not justice, it is revenge," he posted on X shortly after the ruling was announced, adding, "But they will not break me."

His legal team wasted no time in appealing the conviction, which also bars him from holding any public office for the next nine years.

Despite this major setback, Vizcarra still maintains a significant influence in Peruvian politics. In fact, his older brother, Mario Vizcarra, is currently gearing up to run for president in the April 2026 elections under the banner of the Peru First party – a platform where the former president has played a crucial advisory role.

"The answer lies in the voting booth. My brother, Mario Vizcarra, will continue this fight," he stated in another message.

A center-left politician, Vizcarra impressively secured the highest number of votes for Congress in the 2021 elections. However, lawmakers prevented him from taking office for a decade due to his decision to dissolve Congress in 2019 during a constitutional crisis.

This conviction marks another substantial victory for prosecutors tirelessly working on the far-reaching Lava Jato corruption scheme. This notorious scandal, which initially centered around the Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht (now known as Novonor), has implicated political figures and elites across Latin America.

Vizcarra’s lawyer, Erwin Siccha, has argued that the state's key witnesses were executives from firms that the former governor had previously accused of wrongdoing, suggesting a potential motive for retaliation.

Peru, unfortunately, continues to grapple with intense political instability. The nation has seen a revolving door of six presidents since 2018, largely due to impeachments, resignations, and persistent corruption investigations. Vizcarra is expected to serve his sentence in the same Lima prison where three other former presidents are currently incarcerated.

Alejandro Toledo and Ollanta Humala are presently serving time for their own corruption convictions, while Pedro Castillo remains detained as he faces rebellion charges.