Peruvian judicial system has rejected a motion to dismiss a corruption case against former president Alejandro Toledo, his defense lawyer Heriberto Benitez said on Friday.

"The legal battle continues," Benitez announced via Twitter, saying he will appeal to a higher court.

There is an arrest warrant out on Toledo, who is believed to be in the United States, on charges that he accepted some 20 million U.S. dollars in bribes from Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht in return for lucrative public works contracts during his term from 2001 to 2006.

Toledo has refused to return to Peru to face justice, and Peru is in the process of requesting his extradition.

Toledo is one of three ex-presidents implicated in a multinational corruption scandal sparked by Odebrecht's systematic bribery scheme.

Odebrecht has admitted paying more than 29 million U.S. dollars in bribes to Peruvian officials during the administrations of former presidents Toledo, Alan Garcia and Ollanta Humala.

Xinhua: Source