A Peruvian court has sentenced former President Martin Vizcarra to 14 years in prison for accepting bribes during his tenure as governor of the southern province of Moquegua. The court also handed him a nine-year ban from holding public office and imposed a financial penalty.
The sentence, handed down on Wednesday, stems from accusations that Vizcarra accepted more than $600,000 in bribes in exchange for awarding public works contracts in Moquegua between 2011 and 2014. He led the region before ascending to Peru’s presidency in 2018.
Vizcarra is the latest in a series of Peruvian former leaders to face criminal prosecution. He joins three ex-presidents currently serving prison terms, reflecting what analysts describe as a deep-rooted crisis of political corruption and instability in the country. Peru has seen six presidents cycle through office since 2018, many of them leaving amid scandal or impeachment.
Vizcarra first took office as head of state after Pedro Pablo Kuczynski resigned in 2018 under the threat of impeachment related to a vote-buying scandal and ties to the Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht. Vizcarra’s own presidency was cut short in 2020 after Congress impeached him over “moral incapacity” related to corruption claims.
After his sentencing, Vizcarra said on social media, “This is not justice, it is revenge. But they will not break me.” He indicated that he plans to appeal the decision. In another online post, he added, “They’ve removed me from office. They’ve barred me from holding public office. They’ve expelled me from my party. And now they’re throwing me in jail. Are they so afraid of Vizcarra?”
Vizcarra currently leads the Peru First party and maintains his innocence, calling the charges politically motivated. His older brother, Mario Vizcarra, is expected to run in Peru’s 2026 presidential election, with Martin serving as an adviser.
Source: Al Jazeera, https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/11/26/peruvian-ex-president-martin-vizcarra-sentenced-to-14-years-in-prison
