Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, president of Peru from July 2016 to March 2018, resigned from office when it came to light that his financial consulting firm had billed Odebrecht while he was a minister. He faced a total of eight investigations. In 2026, the courts dismissed the two most high-profile cases—those involving campaign contributions from 2011 and 2016. However, two cases remain open, and one of them is currently in trial. Kuczynski, 87, served three years under house arrest without a conviction. This report distinguishes between cases that have been dismissed, those that remain open, and those where evidence has been established.
The short answer: Pedro Pablo Kuczynski has not been convicted of any crime. As of October 7, 2026, of the eight investigations filed against him, the two best-known cases have been closed, and two remain open: the Westfield Capital case, which is in trial, and the IIRSA Norte case, which is under investigation. What has been proven is that his company, Westfield Capital, received payments from Odebrecht while he was a public official. Kuczynski himself admitted this to the Prosecutor’s Office in 2019. It has also been proven that he spent three years under house arrest. The 2026 case files do not declare his innocence. They conclude that the acts did not constitute a crime under the law in effect in 2011 and 2016.
Who Is Pedro Pablo Kuczynski and Why Does His Case Matter?
Kuczynski, known in Peru as PPK, served as Minister of Economy and President of the Council of Ministers during the administration of Alejandro Toledo, from 2001 to 2006. He won the presidency in 2016 by a narrow margin over Keiko Fujimori. He served for twenty months. He resigned on March 21, 2018, cornered by two impeachment motions and the so-called “Kenjivideos.”
His case is significant because it is the Peruvian case that best illustrates the difference between a case being dismissed for lack of grounds and an acquittal. It is also significant because Kuczynski is the only recent Peruvian former president without a final conviction. For comparison, Auditoría Abierta has the case files of Alejandro Toledo, Ollanta Humala, and Keiko Fujimori. In addition, it publishes a verified list of former Latin American presidents convicted of corruption.
The six main aspects of the case, with their level of evidence
| No. | Point | What is claimed | Who makes the claim and when | Kuczynski’s Response | Status and standard of living |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Westfield Capital Case | His company billed Odebrecht for consulting services on the Interoceánica Sur and Olmos projects while he was a minister; he laundered those funds | Prosecution by the Lava Jato Special Task Force; trial authorized by Judge Jorge Chávez Tamariz | The company acknowledged the existence of the contracts but denies money laundering | Oral trial. Basic facts proven by his own testimony; the specific charge is in dispute |
| 2 | IIRSA Norte Case | Colluded with Odebrecht to favor it in the concession | Prosecution: charge of aggravated collusion | Denies | Ongoing investigation, no charges filed |
| 3 | House arrest | Served three years at his home in San Isidro | Judiciary, April 2019 to April 2022 | He described it as “three years in prison” | Proven |
| 4 | Pardon for Alberto Fujimori | He granted it days after averting his removal from office with votes from Fujimori supporters | His own decision on December 24, 2017 | He says he was seeking “reconciliation” | Proven as fact; no criminal proceedings |
| 5 | Campaign contributions in 2011 and 2016 | Received $300,000 from Odebrecht’s “Slush Fund” in 2011 and additional funds in 2016 | Prosecutor’s Office | Decided to dismiss the case | Case dismissed in 2026 due to lack of grounds for prosecution |
| 6 | Techint, Camisea, and “Kenjivideos” | Money laundering of US$3.48 million between 1966 and 2015; vote-buying in 2018 | Prosecutor’s Office; constitutional complaint | Voluntarily testified in 2018 | Investigations with no known charges |
Front 1: The Westfield Capital case, the only one currently on trial
This is the most advanced case against Kuczynski. On February 11, 2019, he testified before the Prosecutor’s Office that he had founded Westfield Capital, according to El Comercio. That company contracted with Odebrecht to provide financial advisory services for sections 2 and 3 of the Southern Interoceanic Highway and the Olmos water transfer project. His business partner, Chilean businessman Gerardo Sepúlveda, corroborated the statement. The contracts coincided with the years when Kuczynski served as Minister of Economy and Chief of Staff.
On April 10, 2019, a judge ordered his preliminary detention and the search of his properties. Five days later, the Prosecutor’s Office requested pretrial detention for him, his former secretary Gloria Kisic, and his driver José Luis Bernaola. According to La República, the indictment alleges that Kuczynski laundered those funds through the purchase of a property and the repayment of a personal loan.
The Trial and the 35-Year Sentence Request
Judge Jorge Chávez Tamariz authorized the start of the oral trial against Kuczynski and Sepúlveda, according to RPP. The Prosecutor’s Office is seeking a 35-year prison sentence for money laundering with the aggravating circumstance of criminal organization, according to LP Derecho and Caretas. It is also seeking civil damages in excess of US$46 million. The prosecution alleges that Westfield Capital, First Capital, and Dorado Asset Management were used to channel payments from consortia linked to Odebrecht under the guise of consulting services.
In September 2025, the defense succeeded in having the judiciary admit an appeal. This delayed the start of the trial until 2026, according to Caretas. As of mid-2026, the case was still in the oral proceedings phase with no verdict, according to Infobae. Kuczynski maintains that the services were genuine and that no money laundering took place.
Front 2: The IIRSA Norte Case
The second ongoing case concerns the IIRSA Norte highway, the Northern Amazon Multimodal Corridor. According to the prosecutor’s ruling cited by La República, Kuczynski allegedly colluded with Odebrecht to favor the company in that concession. He is charged with aggravated collusion. The facts differ from those in the Westfield case, although the construction company is the same.
Due to these types of cases, Kuczynski remains subject to restricted court appearances and is barred from leaving the country. In 2026, his defense team confirmed that he was still unable to travel abroad despite the dismissal of the cases involving campaign contributions, according to Diario Correo. El Comercio reported in 2025 that the travel ban remained in effect until the end of 2026. As of the date of this report, the case remains under investigation, with no charges filed.
Front 3: Three Years of House Arrest
Kuczynski served three years of house arrest at his home on Jirón Choquehuanca in San Isidro, according to La República. On April 10, 2022, Judge Jorge Chávez Tamariz replaced the measure with a court appearance subject to restrictions upon the expiration of the legal term. He prohibited Kuczynski from communicating with his co-defendants, leaving Metropolitan Lima without authorization, and speaking to the press about the case.
In 2026, now free of those restrictions, he described the situation to TV Perú Noticias, according to Infobae: “They sentenced me to three years in prison, but because of COVID, they let me serve those three years here.” He explained that the proceedings separated him from his wife for eight years and that his bank accounts were frozen. It’s important to clarify this point: it was a precautionary measure, not a sentence. No one sentenced him to three years; he was detained while the investigation was ongoing.
Issue 4: The Pardon of Alberto Fujimori
On December 24, 2017, Kuczynski granted a humanitarian pardon to Alberto Fujimori, according to El Comercio. Fujimori was serving a 25-year prison sentence for the Barrios Altos and La Cantuta massacres. The decision came three days after Kuczynski survived the first impeachment motion, thanks in part to votes from Kenji Fujimori’s bloc. For this reason, he was accused of trading the pardon for political support, according to La República.
In October 2018, a Supreme Court overturned the pardon, and the overturn was upheld in February 2019. On March 17, 2022, the Constitutional Court reinstated it, and Fujimori was released from prison in December 2023. Following Fujimori’s death in September 2024, Kuczynski defended his decision: he was seeking “reconciliation in Peru,” according to Infobae. This issue is a well-documented political controversy. There are no criminal proceedings against Kuczynski regarding the pardon.
Issue 5: Campaign contributions shelved in 2026
Here is the most significant development of the year. Two cases that shaped Kuczynski’s public image for nearly a decade ended without a trial.
2011 Campaign Contributions
The Prosecutor’s Office alleged that Kuczynski received $300,000 from Odebrecht’s “Caja B” for his 2011 presidential campaign, according to Diario Correo. On May 15, 2026, Judge Richard Concepción Carhuancho ordered the case to be definitively dismissed. According to Infobae, he concluded that the facts did not constitute money laundering as defined by the law in 2011. The law required actions that made it difficult to identify the source of the money, not merely the receipt of funds from illicit sources. Kuczynski reacted publicly: “I am very happy that this has happened.”
2016 Campaign Contributions
On September 18, 2026, the Third National Criminal Appeals Chamber also ordered the case involving aggravated money laundering related to the 2016 campaign to be permanently dismissed, according to ABC Color. It applied the same criteria that the Constitutional Court had previously used for Keiko Fujimori and Ollanta Humala. The offense of “receipt of illicit assets” took effect in November 2016, after the campaign, so the conduct did not constitute a crime. The Chamber also ordered the expungement of the criminal and judicial records resulting from that case.
What the dismissal means
A dismissal on the grounds of atypical conduct is not an acquittal. The court did not examine whether or not Kuczynski received the money. It concluded that, even if he had received it, the law at the time did not punish it as money laundering. This distinction is important for understanding the case file without confusing the terms.
Appendix: Open Investigations Without Charges
Techint, Tenaris, and the Camisea Gas Project
The Lava Jato Special Task Force opened an investigation into Kuczynski’s entire career as a public official and private advisor. According to a court ruling cited by La República, the Prosecutor’s Office alleges that he laundered approximately US$3.48 million derived from alleged acts of corruption between 1966 and 2015. It mentions Transportadora de Gas del Perú, Ternium and Tenaris (Techint Group), Odebrecht, and The Rohatyn Group. Prosecutors describe a “revolving door” pattern between public office and consulting roles with hydrocarbon companies. In June 2025, El Comercio still listed this investigation as open. There is no record of the case being closed or of any indictment.
The “Kenjivideos” of 2018
In March 2018, videos were released showing government allies and Congressman Kenji Fujimori negotiating public works projects in exchange for votes against the second impeachment. Kuczynski resigned on March 21, 2018. In September of that year, the Attorney General opened a preliminary investigation into bribery and influence peddling. Kuczynski voluntarily testified in October, according to El Comercio. The case was referred to Congress as a constitutional complaint. The IDEHPUCP Anti-Corruption Observatory noted in 2020 that there had been no trial or verdict. No final ruling has been recorded.
So, what has been proven in the case against Pedro Pablo Kuczynski?
- Proven by his own statement: he founded Westfield Capital, and that company billed Odebrecht for consulting services while he was a minister. Whether that constitutes money laundering is what the trial will determine.
- Proven: He served three years of house arrest, from April 2019 to April 2022, as a precautionary measure, not as a sentence.
- Proven as a political act: he pardoned Alberto Fujimori on December 24, 2017. There are no criminal proceedings regarding this.
- On trial, no verdict yet: the Westfield Capital case, with the prosecutor seeking a 35-year sentence.
- Under investigation, no charges filed: the IIRSA Norte, Techint, and Camisea cases, and the “Kenjivideos” case.
- Case dismissed, not acquitted: 2011 and 2016 campaign contributions, due to the offense not being a crime at the time of the events.
- Convictions: none.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Does Pedro Pablo Kuczynski have any convictions?
No. No court has handed down a conviction against him. He has one case in trial, Westfield Capital, and another under investigation, IIRSA Norte. The two cases involving campaign contributions were dismissed in 2026, and other investigations remain without charges.
Why was PPK under house arrest?
Because of the Westfield Capital case. On April 10, 2019, a judge ordered his preliminary detention, and the Prosecutor’s Office subsequently requested pretrial detention, which was served as house arrest due to his age and health. It lasted three years, until April 10, 2022. The judge then replaced it with court appearances subject to restrictions. It was a precautionary measure, not a conviction.
What is the Westfield Capital case?
It is the case involving payments that Odebrecht made to Westfield Capital, Kuczynski’s financial advisory firm. The payments were for phases 2 and 3 of the Interoceánica Sur highway and the Olmos water transfer project. He was Minister of Economy during those years. The Prosecutor’s Office accuses him of money laundering and is seeking a 35-year prison sentence. The trial is currently underway.
Which cases involving PPK were dismissed in 2026?
Two. The case involving Odebrecht’s contributions to his 2011 campaign (US$300,000), dismissed on May 15, 2026, by Judge Concepción Carhuancho. And the case involving contributions to the 2016 campaign, dismissed on September 18, 2026, by the Third National Criminal Appeals Chamber. In both cases, the reason given was that the conduct did not constitute a crime under the law in effect at those times.
Is dismissing a case the same as acquitting?
No. In PPK’s cases, the judges did not examine whether he received the money. They concluded that, under the laws of 2011 and 2016, receiving contributions from illicit sources did not constitute money laundering. An acquittal requires a trial that declares innocence; in this case, there was no trial.
Why can’t PPK leave Peru?
Because he remains subject to a travel ban due to ongoing legal proceedings, such as the IIRSA Norte and Westfield cases. His defense team confirmed in 2026 that the restriction remained in effect despite the dismissal of the campaign contribution cases, according to Diario Correo.
Why did Pedro Pablo Kuczynski resign?
He resigned on March 21, 2018, one day before the vote on the second impeachment motion. Weighing heavily against him were the revelations of Odebrecht’s payments to Westfield Capital and the “Kenjivideos,” which showed his allies negotiating public works projects in exchange for votes.
Did PPK pardon Fujimori in exchange for votes?
This is a political accusation, not a legal conclusion. He granted the pardon on December 24, 2017, three days after surviving the first impeachment vote thanks to votes from Kenji Fujimori’s bloc. Kuczynski maintains that he was seeking reconciliation. There are no criminal proceedings related to the pardon.
Sources consulted
- El Comercio: PPK, the timeline of the case that keeps him under house arrest (2019)
- La República: Westfield Case: PPK to Face Trial While Free (April 11, 2022)
- La República: The investigations against PPK and his 3 years of house arrest (April 10, 2022)
- RPP: The Court of Appeals authorized the start of the trial against Pedro Pablo Kuczynski in the Westfield Capital case
- LP Derecho: Judiciary Orders Oral Trial Against PPK; Prosecution Seeks 35 Years in Prison for Money Laundering
- Caretas: PPK Succeeds in Getting the Judiciary to Accept Appeal; Westfield Case Trial Would Be Postponed Until 2026 (September 2025)
- Infobae: PPK Welcomes the Judiciary’s Decision to Dismiss the Case Involving Odebrecht’s Campaign Contribution (May 15, 2026)
- Infobae: Judiciary Dismisses Investigation Against PPK Over Odebrecht Contribution to His 2011 Campaign (May 15, 2026)
- Diario Correo: Judiciary dismisses money laundering case against PPK (May 2026)
- Diario Correo: PPK Will Not Be Able to Travel Abroad Despite the Case Regarding Odebrecht Contributions Being Dismissed (2026)
- ABC Color: Money laundering trial against former Peruvian President Kuczynski is dismissed (September 19, 2026)
- El Comercio: Alberto Fujimori, the Pardon, and Its Revocation: A Timeline (2019)
- La República: Humanitarian pardon for Alberto Fujimori: a timeline of the case (March 17, 2022)
- Infobae: Kuczynski Says He Granted Fujimori a Pardon to Seek Reconciliation in Peru (September 12, 2024)
- La República: Investigation into the former president’s activities since 1966, Techint, and natural gas (March 7, 2024)
- El Comercio: PPK Barred from Leaving the Country Until the End of 2026 (June 2025)
- El Comercio: PPK Testifies Before the Prosecutor’s Office Regarding Alleged Vote-Buying (October 2018)
- IDEHPUCP: Anti-Corruption Observatory, “Kenjivideos” report (November 2020)
This article compiles documented facts and allegations attributed to the individuals mentioned. The mention of an allegation does not imply its veracity, and the responses of the person mentioned are included in each case. Auditoría Abierta offers Pedro Pablo Kuczynski the opportunity to respond and will update the article with any new developments. Information verified as of October 7, 2026.
Investigative Journalist and Political Analyst
Eri Miranda Loya is an investigative journalist specializing in public affairs coverage, power structure analysis, and institutional oversight in Latin America. His journalistic work stands out for the intensive use of transparency techniques, freedom of information access, and documentary cross-referencing, aimed at untangling the regulatory and financial webs of the political class.
At Auditoría Abierta, he is part of the investigative team focused on accurately documenting cases of opacity, legislative controversies, and accountability. His approach prioritizes informational sobriety, respect for due process, and the rigorous use of primary sources to provide citizens with bias-free journalism grounded in verifiable facts.