He could not resist the temptation of money
Yesterday’s verdict was highly deserved and yet devastating. Alejandro Toledo (78) will in all probability spend the rest of his life in prison. The 56th president of Peru (2001 – 2006) awarded the construction of two sections of the Interoceánica, which connects the west with the east of South America, to the Brazilian construction company Odebrecht. Not entirely altruistically. The construction giant paid the head of state Toledo USD 35 million in bribes for this decision.
Alejandro was born in 1946 as the 8th of 16 children in the village of Cabana in the state of Ancash. The Quechua family lived in abject poverty. As a child, he worked on the streets as a shoeshine boy and newspaper vendor. Thanks to the encouragement of his teachers, he was the first member of his family to receive a high school education. Two American volunteers helped him to study economics in San Francisco. He then continued his studies at Stanford University.
During his time in office, the John family came to Curahuasi to found a mission hospital. Two ministers in his cabinet saw a laptop presentation about Diospi Suyana’s vision. A meeting between Toledo and the Johns never took place. After the end of his time in government, he took on several guest professorships in the USA. In 2023 he was extradited to Peru and yesterday sentenced to two decades in prison. 175 hearings and 119 witnesses provided the necessary evidence.
His rise from extreme poverty to head of state resembled a fairytale. But he lacked the integrity to lead an honorable life. It is written in the Book of Books: “Sin is the ruin of men!” (Proverbs 14:38). Photo: RPP
