LIMA, Peru — On Monday, former President Alejandro Toledo of Peru was sentenced to a total of 20 years and six months in prison, stemming from his involvement with the Brazilian construction firm Odebrecht, notorious for its widespread corruption in Latin America. The company has been implicated in paying substantial bribes to various officials and entities throughout the region.

Toledo faced allegations of accepting $35 million in bribes from Odebrecht in return for facilitating the construction of a highway in Peru. The National Superior Court of Specialized Criminal Justice in Lima issued the prison sentence after extensive legal proceedings, which included a lengthy debate about Toledo’s extradition from the United States, where he had been residing. Toledo served as Peru’s president from 2001 to 2006.

Odebrecht, known for executing key infrastructure projects across Latin America, acknowledged in 2016 that it had bribed officials to secure government contracts in numerous countries, which led to investigations by the U.S. Department of Justice that expanded throughout the continent, affecting nations like Mexico, Guatemala, and Ecuador.

In Peru, Toledo was among several former presidents accused of receiving illicit payments from Odebrecht. Despite these serious allegations, Toledo has consistently denied any wrongdoing, contending that the accusations against him are unfounded.