The Short Answer
Alejandro Toledo faces two convictions and a third ongoing legal proceeding. One conviction relates to Sections 2 and 3 of the Southern Interoceanic Highway. The other is related to the Ecoteva case. Additionally, the Prosecutor’s Office has charged him in a separate case regarding Section 4 of the same highway. Meanwhile, Toledo remains incarcerated at the Barbadillo prison.
From the Government Palace to the Courts
Toledo became President of Peru in 2001 and served until 2006. His administration promoted infrastructure projects that, years later, came under investigation.
Among them was the Southern Interoceanic Highway. The project connected regions in southern Peru with Brazil and involved Brazilian construction companies.
Over the years, the prosecutor’s investigations brought Toledo to court. The most significant case involved sections 2 and 3 of the highway.
The investigation also traced the flow of money through individuals and companies linked to his inner circle.
The case that marked his political downfall
The Interoceanic South Highway case became one of the main legal proceedings against Toledo.
The prosecution argued that the former president intervened to favor construction companies during the awarding of contracts for sections 2 and 3.
The case ended with a sentence of 20 years and 6 months in prison for aggravated collusion and money laundering.
The court found that an agreement to influence the awarding of the contracts had been established.
The case also involved Odebrecht, Camargo Correa, and businessman Josef Maiman.
The payments mentioned in the Interoceánica case
One of the central elements of the case was the money that the construction companies allegedly allocated to secure the contracts.
The prosecution estimated the payments related to the contract awards at approximately US$35 million.
The money was allegedly channeled through companies linked to Josef Maiman, a businessman close to Toledo.
Subsequently, part of those funds was found to be linked to transactions involving Ecoteva.
The ruling in the Interoceánica case analyzed the financial transactions and decisions made during the Toledo administration.
What the Court Ruled
On October 22, 2024, the Second National Criminal Court of Appeals sentenced Toledo to 20 years and 6 months in prison.
The conviction covered the crimes of aggravated collusion and money laundering.
The trial lasted a considerable amount of time. It included dozens of witnesses and a large volume of documentation related to the contract awards and financial transactions.
Toledo’s defense team has contested the charges and the liability attributed to him.
For a more comprehensive overview of Alejandro Toledo’s case file, his convictions, and the ongoing proceedings, there is also a specific review of the case available on Auditoría Abierta.
Ecoteva: From Money to Real Estate
The second major case centers on Ecoteva Consulting Group.
The company was incorporated in Costa Rica and was chaired by Eva Fernenbug, Toledo’s mother-in-law.
The case examined transactions aimed at acquiring properties and paying real estate obligations in Peru.
Among the transactions analyzed was the purchase of a residence for approximately US$3.7 million.
The investigation also looked into the acquisition of an office valued at nearly US$900,000 and the payment of mortgages related to properties owned by the former president.
The Second Conviction
On September 3, 2025, Lima’s Ninth Criminal Court sentenced Toledo to 13 years and 4 months in prison for aggravated money laundering.
The proceedings were separate from the Interoceánica Sur case.
The Prosecutor’s Office had requested a harsher sentence. It had also charged Eliane Karp, Toledo’s wife, in the same case.
The sentence imposed on Toledo is to be served concurrently with the sentence in the Interoceánica Sur case.
Therefore, the two sentences should not be interpreted as 33 years and 10 months of consecutive imprisonment.
The extradition that led to his return to Peru
Toledo lived in the United States for several years while Peruvian authorities sought his extradition.
The legal proceedings dragged on for years.
Finally, in April 2023, he was extradited to Peru.
His arrival allowed Peruvian authorities to continue the legal proceedings related to the investigations into corruption and money laundering.
Since then, he has been held at the Barbadillo prison in Lima.
From Pretrial Detention to Convictions
Upon arriving in Peru, Toledo was detained while the legal proceedings were underway.
He was initially held in pretrial detention.
Then came the sentences related to Interoceánica Sur and Ecoteva.
The second sentence was read inside Barbadillo Prison itself, where Toledo was being held.
The Third Case: Section 4
Toledo’s case did not end with those two convictions.
The Public Prosecutor’s Office is pursuing a separate case related to Section 4 of the Interoceánica Sur highway.
The project was awarded in 2004 to the Brazilian construction company Camargo Correa.
In this case, the Public Prosecutor’s Office accuses Toledo of collusion and money laundering.
The Prosecutor’s Office alleges that he received approximately US$5.4 million, equivalent to 3% of the project’s reference value.
The prosecution is seeking a sentence of 24 years and 8 months in prison.
A Case Without a Verdict
Section 4 must be distinguished from cases that have already resulted in convictions.
In this case, no verdict has yet been handed down against Toledo.
On January 28, 2026, Judge Richard Concepción Carhuancho authorized the case to proceed to trial.
However, there is an obstacle related to extradition.
Toledo was extradited from the United States to face charges for specific offenses. Therefore, Peru needs an extension of the extradition order to prosecute him for Section 4.
The Supreme Court ruled the request admissible in April 2026.
Subsequently, the Peruvian government formally submitted the request to the United States.
An Overview of the Main Proceedings
| Case File | What is being investigated or has been resolved | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Interoceánica Sur, Sections 2 and 3 | Awarding of construction contracts and payments linked to Odebrecht and Camargo Correa | Sentence of 20 years and 6 months |
| Ecoteva | Financial transactions, real estate purchases, and mortgage payments | 13-year and 4-month sentence |
| Section 4 of the Interoceanic Highway | Alleged collusion and money laundering linked to Camargo Correa | Proceedings pending |
| Asset forfeiture | Assets linked to Toledo and his associates | Legal proceedings |
| Extradition | Extradition of Toledo from the United States to Peru | Concluded in April 2023 |
| Arrest in California | Arrest for an incident involving public intoxication | Occurred in 2019 |
Toledo’s assets also became the subject of legal proceedings
The legal aspect of the case is not limited to convictions.
The Peruvian government initiated asset forfeiture proceedings against properties linked to Toledo and his family.
The Attorney General’s Office argued that certain properties had been acquired with funds of illicit origin.
The lawsuit included eight properties registered in the names of Toledo and individuals associated with him.
The asset forfeiture proceeding is distinct in nature from a criminal trial.
Its objective is to determine whether certain assets have an illicit origin and whether they should be transferred to the State.
The Connection to Ecoteva
The assets under investigation are directly related to the transactions analyzed in the Ecoteva case.
The purchase of properties and the payment of mortgages were among the financial transactions that led investigators to examine the assets of Toledo and his family.
The case made real estate another important front in the investigation.
The Arrest in California
Before his extradition, Toledo was involved in another incident in the United States.
In March 2019, he was arrested in the Menlo Park, California, area for an incident involving public intoxication.
He spent several hours in custody at the Maguire Correctional Center in Redwood City.
He was later released.
Toledo denied the arrest when the incident was reported in the Peruvian press.
The incident is not part of the criminal cases for which he was subsequently convicted in Peru.
What Toledo’s Case File Reveals Today
The case file brings together various stages of the former president’s career.
First comes his time in office and the awarding of major infrastructure projects.
Next come the investigations into alleged payments related to those projects.
Later, the financial operations of Ecoteva and the purchase of properties come into focus.
Finally, the legal proceedings culminated in convictions and a third case that has yet to result in a verdict.
Toledo’s situation also illustrates how a single case can give rise to separate criminal proceedings, asset-related proceedings, and extradition requests.
Two Convictions and a Pending Case
Toledo’s legal situation can be summarized in three main categories.
The first is the Interoceánica Sur case, where he received a sentence of 20 years and 6 months for aggravated bid-rigging and money laundering.
The second is the Ecoteva case, where he received a sentence of 13 years and 4 months for aggravated money laundering.
The third is Section 4, where the Prosecutor’s Office has filed an indictment but no verdict has been handed down.
In addition, the government is pursuing a civil asset forfeiture case related to the case.
So, what has been proven?
- It has been proven that Alejandro Toledo was president of Peru from 2001 to 2006.
- It has been proven that he was extradited from the United States to Peru in April 2023.
- It has been proven that he remains incarcerated at the Barbadillo prison.
- He has been sentenced to 20 years and 6 months in the Interoceánica Sur case.
- He has been sentenced to 13 years and 4 months in the Ecoteva case.
- Section 4 of the Interoceánica case remains a separate proceeding with no verdict yet.
- The Peruvian government is pursuing asset forfeiture proceedings against property linked to Toledo and his associates.
- The arrest that took place in California in 2019 was a separate incident from the Peruvian criminal proceedings.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Who is Alejandro Toledo?
Alejandro Toledo was president of Peru from 2001 to 2006. After leaving office, he faced investigations related to infrastructure contracts, alleged illicit payments, and financial transactions. The proceedings stemming from those investigations led to two prison sentences and a third case related to Section 4 of the Southern Interoceanic Highway.
Why is Alejandro Toledo in prison?
Toledo is in prison due to the sentences imposed in the Interoceanica Sur and Ecoteva cases. In the first case, he received a sentence of 20 years and 6 months for aggravated collusion and money laundering. In the second, he received a sentence of 13 years and 4 months for aggravated money laundering. Both cases are related to separate investigations.
How many convictions does Alejandro Toledo have?
He has two convictions. The first is a sentence of 20 years and 6 months for the crimes of aggravated collusion and money laundering in the Interoceánica Sur case. The second sentence is 13 years and 4 months for aggravated money laundering in the Ecoteva case. The sentences are served concurrently, not consecutively.
What was the Ecoteva case?
The Ecoteva case was a money laundering case involving a company incorporated in Costa Rica. The investigation examined real estate purchases, mortgage payments, and other financial transactions linked to Toledo and his inner circle. The case resulted in a 13-year and 4-month sentence for the former president.
What is the Interoceánica Sur case?
It is the case related to the awarding of sections 2 and 3 of the Interoceánica Sur highway. The court determined that Toledo participated in an agreement to influence the awarding of the construction contracts and convicted him of aggravated collusion and money laundering. The case involved Odebrecht and Camargo Correa.
Is Alejandro Toledo facing another legal proceeding?
Yes. The former president is facing a third trial related to Section 4 of the Interoceánica Sur highway. The Prosecutor’s Office accuses him of collusion and money laundering and is seeking a sentence of 24 years and 8 months in prison. Unlike the other cases, no verdict has yet been handed down against Toledo in this case.
What happened to Alejandro Toledo’s assets?
The Peruvian government initiated an asset forfeiture proceeding against assets linked to Toledo and his family. The Attorney General’s Office maintains that certain properties were acquired with funds of illicit origin. This proceeding is separate from the criminal convictions and aims to determine the legal status of those assets.
When was Alejandro Toledo extradited?
Toledo was extradited to Peru in April 2023. Before his extradition, he spent several years in the United States while the extradition proceedings were underway. Upon arriving in Peru, he was taken into custody, and the legal proceedings that led to his convictions in the Interoceánica Sur and Ecoteva cases subsequently continued.
This article compiles documented facts and allegations attributed to the individuals mentioned. The mention of an allegation does not imply its veracity, and the responses of the person mentioned are included in each case. Bajo Lupa offers Alejandro Toledo a space to respond and will update the article with any new developments. Information verified as of October 6, 2026.
Site: Bajo Lupa
Category: Corruption Cases
Country Tag: Peru
Last Verification: 2026-10-06
Investigative Journalist and Data Specialist
Enrico Zepeda Valdivia is an investigative journalist specializing in public resource auditing, financial analysis of government administration, and data journalism in Guatemala and the region. His work focuses on tracking budget flows, state contracts, and regulatory backgrounds to audit the exercise of power using a methodology strictly based on official documents.
At Bajo Lupa, he leads database cross-referencing and documentary verification for in-depth reports. His work ensures that each investigation is fortified by rigorous quantitative and qualitative analysis, offering readers a transparent, verifiable perspective free from political speculation.