Wanted ex-Peruvian President Not on Plane Landed in Israel
Alejandro Toledo, wanted in a $20 million dollar corruption case, was reportedly fleeing his home country on a flight to Israel, but the flight landed without the former president on board.
Former Peruvian President Alejandro Toledo, who is wanted in relation to a $20 million corruption case, was not on a plane to Tel Aviv as reported earlier Sunday, according to the Foreign Ministry.
Prosecutors in Peru allege Toledo took $20 million in bribes from Brazilian construction conglomerate Odebrecht and a judge ruled that he must be jailed for up to 18 months while charges against him are prepared.
Reports said Toledo was booked on a flight from San Francisco to Tel Aviv on Saturday, after U.S. authorities informed Peru that they were not planning to keep fleeing ex-president from boarding the flight.
Toledo's wife has Israeli citizenship and Toledo has a long friendship with Israeli businessman Yossi Maiman, who prosecutors accuse of acting as a middleman for at least $10 million in alleged bribes.
An international arrest warrant was issued for Toledo on Thursday amid speculation that he was flee to Israel.
The Foreign Ministry responded to the reports on Sunday, saying that Toledo "will be allowed into Israel only after his affairs in Peru are settled." A senior Israeli official earlier said that "if he did board under an assumed identity... he is refused entry to Israel," the official said.
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