Former Peruvian President Ollanta Humala has been released from prison after Peru's Constitutional Court overturned his 15-year sentence in a money laundering case linked to the sprawling Odebrecht corruption scandal.

Humala, who served as Peru's president from 2011 to 2016, walked free from a prison facility in Lima on Friday evening under police escort after a criminal court ordered his immediate release following the Constitutional Court's ruling.

Supporters gathered outside the prison to welcome the 64-year-old former army officer, whose conviction had made him the first former Peruvian president to stand trial in the high-profile Odebrecht corruption investigation.

Conviction Set Aside

Humala and his wife, Nadine Heredia, were convicted last year on charges of receiving illegal campaign contributions from Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht and the Venezuelan government during two presidential election campaigns.

However, Peru's Constitutional Court ruled that the conviction was legally invalid, effectively nullifying the sentence. Following the ruling, a lower criminal court directed prison authorities to release the former president.

Humala Denies Wrongdoing

Speaking to reporters after his release, Humala maintained his innocence, alleging that he and his family had been subjected to political and judicial persecution.

"We have been victims of political and judicial persecution," he said.

After returning to his home in Lima, Humala again denied ever receiving campaign funds from either Brazil or Venezuela, insisting the prosecution was politically motivated.

His wife Nadine Heredia remains in Brazil after seeking asylum there following her conviction.

Major Corruption Scandal

The Odebrecht investigation has become one of Latin America's largest corruption probes, implicating politicians and public officials across the region.

In Peru alone, the scandal has affected several former presidents, including Alejandro Toledo, Martín Vizcarra, and Pedro Castillo.

All four former leaders have faced legal proceedings linked to corruption allegations involving the Brazilian construction company.

Government Reacts

Peru's Foreign Minister Carlos Espa welcomed the Constitutional Court's decision, describing it as fair.

The ruling comes under the administration of President Keiko Fujimori, who herself has previously faced legal proceedings over alleged campaign financing linked to Odebrecht. Those proceedings were later annulled after she spent more than a year in pre-trial detention.

Ironically, Humala had defeated Fujimori in the 2011 presidential runoff to become Peru's head of state.

Odebrecht's Global Impact

The Odebrecht scandal remains one of the largest international corruption cases in modern history. In 2016, the Brazilian construction company agreed to pay approximately $3.5 billion in penalties after admitting it had paid $788 million in bribes to politicians and government officials across several countries in exchange for lucrative public infrastructure contracts.

The company acknowledged paying at least $29 million in bribes to Peruvian officials between 2005 and 2014, triggering widespread investigations that reshaped Peru's political landscape.

Humala's release marks another significant development in the long-running corruption saga, though legal and political debates surrounding the Odebrecht scandal continue to influence Peru's judicial and political institutions.