Peruvian ex-president Alejandro Toledo arrested in US
- Former leader is wanted in home country for allegedly taking US$20 million in bribes from Brazilian construction company
- Toledo, who has lived in California in recent years, was arrested by US Marshals following extradition request from Peru
Former Peruvian President Alejandro Toledo, who faces corruption charges in his homeland, was arrested in the United States following an extradition request, US and Peruvian authorities said on Tuesday.
The US Marshals Service arrested Toledo and he appeared before US Magistrate Judge Thomas S. Hixson in Northern California, the US Justice Department said. He was ordered held in custody pending a hearing on Friday, according to department spokeswoman Nicole Navas.
Toledo’s court appearance was “part of the process aimed at securing his return” to Peru, the attorney general’s office in Peru said on Twitter.
The ex-president is wanted in his home country on accusations of taking US$20 million in bribes from Odebrecht, a Brazilian construction company at the centre of Latin America’s biggest corruption scandal.
Odebrecht has admitted to paying US$800 million to officials throughout the region in exchange for lucrative public works contracts.