Washington [US], April 24: Former Peruvian president Alejandro Toledo has surrendered to authorities in the United States in connection with an extradition request filed by Lima. Toledo, 77, is accused by authorities in Peru of accepting bribes while in office of $20 million from the Brazilian construction company Odebrecht in exchange for public work contracts.
Peruvian media reported that he appeared in a California court in San Jose on Friday, citing judicial and diplomatic circles. Peru had issued an arrest warrant for Toledo in 2017 and requested his extradition from the United States, where he had fled after leaving office. He was taken into US custody in 2019, and a protracted legal process followed. If ultimately convicted, he faces 20 years in prison. He denies the allegations and says he is a victim of political persecution. The sprawling Odebrecht affair is considered the biggest corruption scandal in Latin America. The US Justice Department said the construction giant paid bribes to individuals in 12 countries totalling $800 million.
Source: Qatar Tribune