U.S. decide clears means for extradition of former Peruvian President Toledo By Reuters

By Marcelo Rochabrun

LIMA (Reuters) – A U.S. decide on Tuesday mentioned that proof of criminality within the extradition case in opposition to former Peruvian President Alejandro Toledo is “adequate,” all however clearing the way in which for his extradition again to Peru on corruption expenses.

Peruvian authorities allege that Toledo, whereas serving as president between 2001 and 2006, negotiated bribes with Brazilian conglomerate Odebrecht SA.

Closing say on whether or not to extradite Toledo now lies with the U.S. State Division.

Toledo has denied the graft allegations in opposition to him. He lives in California, close to the Stanford College campus, the place he studied and later labored. He’s at present beneath home arrest, though he additionally spent a number of months in jail throughout the earlier phases of the extradition case.

Key to the choice by U.S. Justice of the Peace Decide Thomas Hixson in San Francisco had been the testimonies of Jorge Barata, the previous Odebrecht head in Peru, and that of Josef Maiman, an acquaintance of Toledo who has mentioned he helped the previous president obtain bribe cash.

“Barata and Maiman’s testimony, mixed with Toledo’s admissions on this extradition continuing that he finally obtained roughly $500,000 in Odebrecht bribe cash … set up possible trigger to consider that Toledo dedicated collusion and cash laundering,” the decide wrote in his choice.

The US extradited former Panama President Ricardo Martinelli in 2018.