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Former Peruvian President Martín Vizcarra Sentenced to 14 Years in Prison Over Moquegua Corruption Scheme

Key points: Former president Martín Vizcarra was sentenced to 14 years in prison for taking more than $600,000 in bribes while governor of Moquegua. The court also imposed a nine-year ban on holding public office and a fine; Vizcarra says he will appeal. His conviction makes him the fourth ex-president currently incarcerated and underscores the deep challenges Peru faces with corruption and political instability.

04:00 AM, 11/27/2025Politics
Former Peruvian President Martín Vizcarra Sentenced to 14 Years in Prison Over Moquegua Corruption Scheme

A Peruvian court on Wednesday sentenced former president Martín Vizcarra to 14 years in prison after finding him guilty of accepting more than $600,000 in bribes while he served as governor of the southern region of Moquegua. The panel also imposed a nine-year ban on holding public office and ordered Vizcarra to pay a fine.

Authorities expect Vizcarra to begin serving his sentence immediately, though he has said he will appeal. Vizcarra, now a leader in the Peru First party, has consistently denied wrongdoing and called the verdict politically motivated.

“This is not justice, it is revenge,”
“But they will not break me.”

The court concluded that Vizcarra accepted payments in exchange for awarding contracts for major infrastructure projects in Moquegua during his tenure as regional governor from 2011 to 2014. He later served as Peru's president from 2018 until his removal in 2020.

Context and implications

Vizcarra becomes the fourth former Peruvian president currently serving a prison sentence, a development that experts say highlights persistent corruption and political instability in the country. Peru has had six presidents since 2018, some removed by impeachment and others forced from office amid corruption probes.

Vizcarra rose to the presidency after Pedro Pablo Kuczynski faced impeachment proceedings and subsequently resigned in 2018 amid questions about his conduct and ties to the Odebrecht bribery scandal. Vizcarra himself was removed by Congress in 2020 on grounds of “moral incapacity” and has argued that both his impeachment and his prosecution were driven by political rivals.

Political fallout

Vizcarra’s supporters say the conviction is politically charged; the former president framed the ruling as retaliation against his anti-corruption stance. His older brother, Mario Vizcarra, is being discussed as a potential contender in the 2026 presidential race, with Martín remaining an influential adviser to Peru First despite the legal setbacks.

The verdict is expected to deepen debate in Peru over the effectiveness and impartiality of anti-corruption prosecutions, and it will likely shape political dynamics ahead of the 2026 election. Vizcarra’s legal team has signalled an appeal, meaning the case could continue to unfold in the courts.

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