Peru’s former President Alejandro Toledo was sentenced to 20 years and six months in prison for accepting $35 million in bribes from Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht in exchange for a highway construction contract.

The National Superior Court of Specialized Criminal Justice in Lima imposed the sentence after a lengthy legal battle, including Toledo’s extradition from the U.S.

The judge, Inés Rojas, condemned Toledo for betraying public trust and mismanaging state resources.

Despite his denials, Toledo has faced accusations alongside three other former presidents linked to Odebrecht’s widespread bribery schemes across Latin America. His attorney plans to appeal the sentence.

Toledo, who was extradited to Peru in 2022 after living in the U.S. since 2016, will serve his sentence in a facility designated for former presidents, the Associated Press has reported.

Prosecutor José Domingo Pérez called the ruling a “historic” message against corruption in Peru.

Written by B.C. Begley