Former Peruvian President Ollanta Humala (2011-2016) and wife Nadine Heredia on Thursday night arrived at Lima-based Justice Palace to remain in custody at said facilities' lock-up following a judicial resolution ordering 18-month preventive detention.
They were escorted by police and accompanied by defense lawyers Wilfredo Pedraza and Alberto Otarola, former ministers of the Humala administration.
Previously, Humala and Heredia voluntarily arrived at the National Criminal Court. They had been awaiting the ruling at home in Lima's Surco district.
At the court, Judge Richard Concepcion —minutes earlier— had issued an 18-month pretrial detention order against the couple over money laundering.
According to Concepcion Carhuancho, there was evidence pointing to the suspects' intention to obstruct justice.
The resolution followed a long public hearing —which had started on Wednesday morning— to rule on a Public Ministry request for preventive detention.
The petition was submitted last Tuesday by Prosecutor for Money Laundering Cases German Juarez, seeking 18 months in prison for the couple over money laundering and Odebrecht-related illicit association to commit a crime.
Humala and Heredia are accused of allegedly having received gains from the Government of Venezuela, as well as corruption-tainted Odebrecht and OAS to fund presidential campaigns in 2006 and 2011, respectively.
In addition, the remainder of said resources would have been used to purchase a vehicle and a property, which former First Lady Heredia had allegedly justified by forging professional services contracts with a number of companies.
Charges are backed by the statements of former Odebrecht executives Jorge Barata and Marcelo Odebrecht, as well as bank statements matching Heredia's incriminating journals.
Humala was sworn in as President of Peru on July 28, 2011, and served for a five-year term.
(END) FHG/SMA/DHT/MVB