Peru - November 2025

On 26 November, a criminal court convicted former President Martín Vizcarra of accepting bribes and sentenced him to 14 years in prison. The case concerns the Lomas de Ilo and Moquegua Hospital development projects, carried out by the construction company Obrainsa. According to the court’s ruling, during his tenure as governor of the Moquegua region, Vizcarra received PEN 1 million (approximately USD 680,000) from Obrainsa through fictitious contracts. In addition to the prison term, he was fined and barred from holding public office for nine years. Vizcarra maintains his innocence, alleging that the prosecution is politically motivated (his brother, Mario Vizcarra, is running for president in 2026 and he himself unsuccessfully sought a vice-presidential bid). His attorney has filed an appeal.

Sources:  La Republica, BBC, El Pais

Peru’s Supreme Court has convicted former President Pedro Castillo of conspiracy to commit rebellion, sentencing him to more than 11 years in prison for his December 2022 attempt to dissolve Congress, rule by decree, reorganize the Prosecutor’s Office and the judiciary, including the Constitutional Tribunal, and the National Board of Justice. Castillo was acquitted of rebellion, abuse of authority, and serious disturbance of public order, but found guilty of conspiracy. Former heads of the Council of Ministers Aníbal Torres and Betssy Chávez, along with former Interior Minister Willy Huerta, were also convicted of the same charge. In addition to his prison sentence, Castillo was declared ineligible to hold public office for two years and, together with the other former officials, ordered to pay approximately USD 3 million in compensation.

Sources: La República, El Comercio, Infobae, El Pais, France 24, International IDEA