A judge in the United States reports a major move in Peru’s ongoing legal saga. This Wednesday, Peru’s former president was ordered to surrender as authorities pursue his extradition to Peru. Judge Thomas Hixon of the Northern District of California issued a bail revocation and set a surrender time of 9:00 am on Friday, April 7, in San Francisco, marking a pivotal moment in the case.
Earlier, the court denied Toledo’s appeal, a move that appears aimed at delaying the extradition process. He awaits transfer to Peru, where he faces corruption and influence trafficking charges. Last week, a U.S. court dismissed a case against the U.S. State Department related to the Fifth Amendment, upholding due process in the extradition proceedings requested by Peruvian authorities for perceived deficiencies in procedural guarantees. This development narrows the avenues for delay and strengthens the case for Peru’s pursuit of justice.
Following that appeal, the request for relief was again rejected, a decision summarized in reports from the Peruvian RPP portal which noted that Toledo showed claimed irreparable damage but failed to demonstrate financial advantage or public interest in suspending the process. The suspension request was denied. [Citation: Peruvian RPP portal]
Peruvian authorities allege that Toledo accepted bribes from the construction firm Odebrecht in exchange for favorable treatment. He was associated with the bidding for the Interoceanic Highway project, though he has denied participating in improper actions. Prosecutors have pushed for a lengthy prison term in the Ecoteva case, while Toledo has requested a lesser sentence in relation to money laundering charges, seeking 16 years and 8 months. The ongoing allegations and court actions remain central to the extradition dispute and Peru’s pursuit of accountability for corruption tied to major infrastructure projects.