A Peruvian court on Wednesday sentenced former President Martín Vizcarra to 14 years in prison for accepting bribes during his tenure as regional governor of Moquegua. Vizcarra, who led the country from 2018 to 2020 and was widely recognized for his anti-corruption stance, was found guilty of receiving payments from construction companies in exchange for awarding public contracts between 2011 and 2014.
Authorities said Vizcarra, 62, received approximately $640,000 for favoring these companies. He remained stoic as the sentence was handed down in a Lima courtroom, while prosecutors had sought a 15-year term.
Vizcarra joins a growing list of former Peruvian leaders convicted on corruption charges, including Pedro Castillo, Ollanta Humala, and Alejandro Toledo, all of whom are held at a special detention facility for ex-presidents in Lima.
The former president has consistently denied any wrongdoing. Earlier this year, he was briefly detained for 22 days as a potential flight risk but was released on bail while his trial, which began in October 2024, proceeded.
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