Peru
Key Facts
—Release date Ollanta Humala was physically released from prison on the evening of July 31, 2026, at around 7:40 pm local time in Lima.
—Court ruling Peru’s Constitutional Court annulled the 15-year money-laundering conviction on July 15, 2026, declaring the criminal proceedings null.
—Case background The conviction was tied to alleged illegal campaign financing from Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht and the Venezuelan government for Humala’s 2006 and 2011 presidential bids.
—Nadine Heredia status Humala’s wife, Nadine Heredia, was also convicted in the same case but remained in Brazil after seeking asylum there in April 2025.
—Execution order The First National Preparatory Investigation Court ordered Humala’s immediate release in compliance with Constitutional Court Sentence No. 169/2026.
Ollanta Humala released from prison on the evening of July 31, 2026, after Peru’s Constitutional Court annulled his 15-year money-laundering conviction, marking a dramatic turn in a case that stemmed from the sprawling Odebrecht corruption scandal across Latin America.
The Constitutional Court Ruling
The Constitutional Court issued its decision on July 15, 2026, declaring the criminal case against Humala null and void. The ruling effectively wiped out the 15-year prison sentence and the related proceedings that had been built around allegations of money laundering.
In compliance with Constitutional Court Sentence No. 169/2026, the First National Preparatory Investigation Court, under Judge César Augusto Riveros Ramos, ordered Humala’s immediate release. The National Penitentiary Institute (INPE) executed the order, and Humala, aged 64, walked out of the Lima prison at approximately 7:40 pm local time.
The Odebrecht and Venezuela Campaign-Financing Case
The legal saga centered on accusations that Humala’s 2006 and 2011 presidential campaigns received illegal financing. Prosecutors alleged that funds were illicitly funneled from the Brazilian construction conglomerate Odebrecht and the government of Venezuela.
On April 15, 2025, a court convicted Humala and his wife, Nadine Heredia, sentencing each to 15 years in prison for money laundering. The court found them guilty of concealing the origin of the undeclared campaign contributions.
Nadine Heredia’s Asylum in Brazil
While Humala served his sentence in Peru, Nadine Heredia took a different path. In April 2025, shortly after the conviction, she entered the Brazilian Embassy in Lima seeking asylum protection and later remained in Brazil. Reports indicate that the Constitutional Court’s annulment may also benefit her legally, though she was not immediately affected by the physical release order in Lima.
Political Earthquake in Peru
The release of Ollanta Humala sends shockwaves through Peru’s already volatile political landscape. The Odebrecht scandal has ensnared multiple former presidents, and the Constitutional Court’s decision to annul a high-profile conviction raises fresh questions about judicial independence and the finality of corruption prosecutions in the country.
For Humala’s supporters, the ruling is a vindication after what they viewed as a politically motivated prosecution. For critics, it represents a significant setback in the long fight against systemic corruption that has deeply eroded public trust in Peru’s institutions.
What Comes Next
With the criminal case declared null, the legal path forward remains uncertain. The ruling does not necessarily preclude a new investigation or trial, but it dismantles the existing conviction. Attention will now turn to whether prosecutors will attempt to rebuild the case or if the decision marks the definitive end of the legal proceedings against the former president.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Ollanta Humala released from prison?
Ollanta Humala was released because Peru’s Constitutional Court annulled his 15-year money-laundering conviction on July 15, 2026, declaring the criminal proceedings null. A lower court then ordered his immediate release on July 31, 2026.
What was the Odebrecht case against Ollanta Humala about?
The case involved allegations that Humala’s 2006 and 2011 presidential campaigns received illegal, undeclared financing from the Brazilian construction company Odebrecht and the Venezuelan government, which prosecutors argued constituted money laundering.
Where is Nadine Heredia now?
Nadine Heredia, Humala’s wife and co-defendant, remained in Brazil as of the release date. She had sought asylum at the Brazilian Embassy in Lima in April 2025 after both were convicted and sentenced to 15 years in prison.
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Sources: Peru's Constitutional Court; First National Preparatory Investigation Court; Constitutional Court Sentence No. 169/2026.
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