Ollanta Humala released as court annuls 15‑year jail sentence

Peru – In a landmark decision, the Constitutional Court declared the 15‑year imprisonment of former president Ollanta Humala null and void, freeing him from Barbadillo prison on Saturday evening.

Humala, who led the country from 2011 to 2016, had been convicted in 2025 of taking illegal campaign donations from the Venezuelan leader and the Brazilian construction firm Odebrecht. The court ruled that the contributions did not amount to money laundering, and so the criminal case was dropped entirely.

Upon release, a sizeable crowd of supporters gathered outside the prison gates to welcome him. “We have been victims of political and judicial persecution,” Humala told reporters, waving to the crowd. He has called for a definitive dismissal of the proceedings and full freedom.

The former president’s wife, Nadine Heredia, also faced a 15‑year sentence for money‑laundering offences. She was granted safe passage to Brazil after seeking sanctuary in the Brazilian embassy.

Humala is the latest high‑profile case linked to Odebrecht, following former leaders such as Alejandro Toledo and Alan García.

Legal battles over the Odebrecht scandal continue, with the former president’s court case drawing attention to the broader pattern of corruption that has plagued Latin American politics. The ruling marks a significant shift, potentially reshaping the narrative around political accountability in Peru.