Ex-Peru president Alejandro 'El Cholo' Toledo arrested in US for drunkenness
03/18/2019, 09:09pm
U.S. authorities announced Monday, March 18, 2019 that Toledo, who Peruvian authorities have asked to be extradited for his alleged ties to Brazilian construction company Odebrecht, was released after a brief detention on suspicion of public intoxication in California. | AP Photo
By Paul Elias and Christine Armario | AP
Former Peruvian President Alejandro Toledo, wanted in his home country in connection with Latin America’s biggest graft scandal, was arrested in California on suspicion of public intoxication and spent the night in jail before being released Monday, authorities said.
Toledo is accused of taking $20 million in bribes while leading Peru. He has been living in the San Francisco Bay Area, and Peruvian authorities have been seeking his extradition since 2017.
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The 72-year-old Toledo was arrested after officers were called to a restaurant in Menlo Park just south of San Francisco, said San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Rosemerry Blankswade. Toledo was drunk and had refused requests to leave the establishment, she said.
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Toledo was Peru’s president from 2001 to 2006 and developed a reputation for partying. His presidential aircraft became known as the “party plane” after a government official was caught on camera drunkenly singing a popular tune called “Pass Me the Bottle” while aboard a flight to Europe.
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