Toledo's wife seeks humanitarian pardon for ex-president amid health concerns

Eliane Karp, wife of former Peruvian President Alejandro Toledo, has appealed for a humanitarian pardon for her husband, who is currently serving a 20-year and six-month prison sentence for accepting bribes from the Brazilian company Odebrecht. Karp stated in an interview that the 81-year-old former president needs medical attention at home due to his declining health in prison.

Speaking from her residence in Israel, Karp described her husband's condition as "terrible," noting that he suffers from multiple ailments that originated during his time in prison following his extradition from the United States in 2023. She expressed concern that Toledo "is a man who could die in prison without having the possibility to defend himself," referencing his 2024 sentence and a subsequent 2025 sentence for real estate purchases made with Odebrecht bribe money.

Toledo himself recently declared in a judicial appeal hearing that he does not know "how many days" he has left to live. He requested that his plea to locate the money allegedly received from Odebrecht be accepted. Karp directed her appeal to the incoming Peruvian president, who will be proclaimed in July, urging them to act with "humanitarian consideration" and "mercy."

Karp specifically addressed Keiko Fujimori, a presidential candidate, reminding her of her own experiences with pre-trial detention. She implored Fujimori not to "go down the path of vengeance." Toledo, who led protests against Fujimori's father, Alberto Fujimori, ultimately won the presidency in 2001. With 99% of votes counted in the current election's second round, Fujimori appears to be the virtual winner.