Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Henry Owen
Peru has sentenced former President Martín Vizcarra to 14 years in prison after a criminal court found him guilty of accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes during his time as governor, marking one of the country’s most consequential corruption rulings in years.
According to court findings, Vizcarra received about US$676,000 in illicit payments from construction companies between 2011 and 2014 in exchange for awarding major public-works contracts—including an irrigation project and hospital infrastructure—while he served as the governor of Moquegua. The judgment also bars him from holding public office for nine years.
The former president reacted with open defiance, telling supporters that “This is not justice, it is revenge,” and insisting the charges were politically driven. He further added, “But they will not break me.” His legal team has announced their intention to appeal.
The verdict underscores a broader crisis in Peruvian politics, where multiple former presidents—including Alejandro Toledo, Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, Alberto Fujimori, and now Vizcarra—have faced prosecution or imprisonment. Analysts say Vizcarra’s conviction deepens public mistrust in a political class long tainted by corruption scandals.
Despite the sentence, Vizcarra’s political network remains active. His brother, Mario Vizcarra, is reportedly positioning himself for a 2026 presidential run under their political movement.
For many Peruvians, the real issue lies beyond the individual conviction: it is a reminder of a systemic corruption pattern that continues to destabilize governance, erode public confidence, and shape the country’s volatile political landscape.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments