By Muhammad Mamman
Peru’s former president Martín Vizcarra has been sentenced to 14 years in prison after a court found him guilty of corruption in a landmark ruling that deepens the country’s long-running political turmoil.
The conviction, delivered by a three-judge panel in Lima on Friday, marks one of the most significant corruption verdicts against a former Peruvian head of state in recent years. Vizcarra, who governed from 2018 to 2020, was found guilty of bribery and illicit association in connection with construction contracts awarded during his time as a regional governor.
Prosecutors argued that Vizcarra accepted illegal payments from contractors in exchange for public works deals—allegations he has repeatedly denied. In court, he maintained that the charges were politically motivated and vowed to appeal the ruling.
The judges said the evidence presented—including witness testimony, financial irregularities and contract records—proved that Vizcarra “abused the authority of his office for personal gain,” undermining public trust in Peru’s already fragile political institutions.
Vizcarra, who rose to the presidency vowing to fight corruption, was impeached and removed from office in 2020 amid widespread protests. His downfall came in a period marked by rapid turnover in Peru’s leadership and deepening public frustration with government corruption.
The ruling is likely to reignite political tensions in the country, where multiple former presidents—Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, Ollanta Humala, Alejandro Toledo and the late Alan García—have faced corruption allegations tied to state contracts and the Odebrecht scandal.
Peru’s judiciary said Vizcarra will remain free while his appeal is processed, though he is barred from leaving the country.
The former president’s legal team criticized the verdict, calling it “excessive” and “unjust,” while anti-corruption advocates welcomed the decision as a rare moment of accountability in a nation where scandals have long plagued the political landscape.
The case adds yet another chapter to Peru’s protracted battle against corruption, a struggle that continues to shape its politics, public confidence, and future governance.
