The imminent extradition of former president Alejandro Toledo

He Minister of Justice of Peru, José Telloconfirmed this Saturday that it is “inevitable” that former President Alejandro Toledo (2001-2006) will be extradited from the United States to the Andean country to face the Peruvian justice system for crimes attributed to him.

Speaking with Radio Nacional, Tello pointed out that the extradition of the former presidentwho has been temporarily suspended pending the resolution of his defense’s appeal, is being dragged out by a “legal machine” trying to avoid this process.

“It seems to me, I will use the term, that it is a chronicle of a foretold death. Alexander Toledo “He will still be extradited to Peru (…) it is inevitable that he will answer to the Peruvian justice system for his crimes,” he said.

The head of the justice portfolio added that the Barbadillo prison in Lima, where former presidents Pedro Castillo (2021-2022) and Alberto Fujimori (1990-2000) are being held, has enough capacity for a possible entry Toledoalthough he indicated that this decision depends on the State Prison Institute (INPE).

“The punishment of Barbadillo He has the conditions to receive Mr. Toledo and other people, what must be clear is that when he arrives on national soil, the Peruvian judiciary will carry out a process where he will be received,” he said.

This Friday, the head of Extradition Office of the Prosecutor’s Office, Alfredo Rebazahe explained to the television channel N that the former president decided to litigate after the decision of the US judiciary to extradite Toledo, and before that his defense filed an appeal that will be accepted next Monday, February 27.

Then, the prosecutor continued, “the hearing stage between March 8 and 5” will begin, although he warned that those dates could vary depending on judge.

Rebaza, however, considered that the arguments of v defending himself “They do not have the fortitude to overturn such a firm decision, after analyzing the appropriate instances under the North American extradition process.”

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This Wednesday, Office of the Northern District of California He has already requested Toledo’s arrest so he can be handed over to Peruvian authorities, after the State Department gave the go-ahead for his extradition.

He former ruler He is accused in his country of accepting millions of dollars in bribes from the Brazilian company Odebrecht in exchange for favors in business in Peru, while he was still president.

More specifically, Toledo is under investigation for allegedly committing criminal offenses of money laundering, collusion and influence peddling, in connection with contracts awarded to Odebrecht for construction Interoceanic route between Brazil and Peru.

The former president was arrested in 2019 Californiawhere he has been staying for the past few years, and spent 8 months in prison due to the risk of escape, although in March 2020, with the outbreak of the covid-19 pandemic, he was placed under house arrest.

Last September, American justice gave the green light for his extradition to Peru, after finding enough evidence to justify this measure, although the final decision was left in the hands of the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken.