The Department of Justice is returning approximately $686,000 in forfeited bribery and corruption proceeds to Peru. The proceeds came from bribes paid to former Peruvian President Alejandro Celestino Toledo Manrique by the Brazil-based global construction conglomerate Odebrecht S.A.
During his presidency in 2001-06, Toledo allegedly solicited and received millions in bribes from Odebrecht for government contracts related to construction of the Peru-Brazil Southern Interoceanic Highway, an infrastructure project of the Peruvian government.
In 2007, Toledo and his family members used over $1.2 million in bribery payments to purchase real estate in Maryland, USA through a scheme designed to conceal the true source and ownership of the funds. Notably, the forfeited assets came from the sale of this Maryland property.
Source: US Department of Justice
