Peru’s former President Martín Vizcarra sentenced to 14 years in prison for corruption

A Peruvian court on Wednesday sentenced former President Martín Vizcarra to 14 years in prison after finding him guilty of accepting bribes during his tenure as governor of the Moquegua region between 2011 and 2014, marking another high-profile conviction in Peru’s ongoing struggle against political corruption.

The court ruled that Vizcarra received more than 2.3 million soles (roughly $690,000–700,000) in bribes from construction firms in exchange for awarding public works contracts. The payments were linked to two major projects: the Lomas de Ilo irrigation project and the Moquegua Hospital project. The 14-year sentence was divided into 6 years for the irrigation project and 8 years for the hospital project.

In addition to the prison term, Vizcarra was barred from holding public office for nine years and ordered to pay a fine of 94,900 soles (about $28,100) as civil damages. Vizcarra’s lawyer, Erwin Siccha, argued that the prosecution relied on witnesses from companies that the former president had previously denounced for corruption.

Vizcarra, who served as president from 2018 until his ousting by Congress in 2020, has consistently denied the charges, calling the proceedings politically motivated. “This is not justice, it is revenge,” he wrote on X following the verdict. His removal from office followed his controversial dissolution of Congress in 2019, an action intended to advance anti-corruption reforms but criticised by opponents as unconstitutional.

Despite being banned from office, Vizcarra remains politically active through his brother, Mario Vizcarra, who plans to run in the April 2026 presidential elections under the “Peru First” party. Martín Vizcarra said, “The answer lies in the voting booth. My brother will continue this fight,” signalling continued influence over supporters.

The conviction is part of broader efforts linked to the Lava Jato corruption scandal, which involved Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht (now Novonor) and implicated political leaders across Latin America. Vizcarra joins former presidents Alejandro Toledo, Ollanta Humala, and Pedro Castillo, all of whom are currently imprisoned or detained in Peru on corruption or other charges.

Peru has faced chronic political instability in recent years, cycling through six presidents since 2018 due to impeachments, resignations, and scandals. Vizcarra is expected to serve his sentence in Barbadillo Prison in Lima, alongside other former leaders convicted of corruption.

The ruling highlights the challenges Peru continues to face in combating entrenched corruption, ensuring accountability, and restoring public trust in its political institutions.