Walter Gago, who was sworn in as a senator for the Partido Cívico Obras on July 24, holds two firm criminal convictions from 1999 for intentional offences, records reviewed by this publication show.
The 42nd Criminal Court of Lima sentenced Gago on May 25, 1999 to one year of suspended imprisonment for an offence against commercial trust and good faith. A second sentence followed from the 26th Criminal Court of Lima, under case file No. 311-98 dated May 28 of the same year, imposing two years of conditional release for the offence of improper cheque issuance and collection.
Gago confirmed to this newspaper that the fraudulent cheques were issued in a private business context and that all obligations arising from those acts had been fully met and honoured. He said he considers himself rehabilitated, adding that his subsequent conduct was the best guarantee of that.
Drink-Driving Incidents
Police records also show Gago was stopped on at least two occasions for driving under the influence of alcohol. The first incident occurred on December 14, 2010, around 2 a.m. on Avenida Benavides in Surco, where officers noted he showed clear signs of having consumed alcohol and was carrying neither a driving licence nor a permit for tinted windows.
A second stop took place on February 12, 2013, at 00:45 on Playa Los Yuyos in Barranco. Police again recorded the presence of alcohol, and noted he had no driving licence and held an expired vehicle insurance certificate.
In response, Gago said he currently has no outstanding fines or administrative sanctions with the state, and that several years ago he made a personal and responsible decision to stop driving.
Gago previously directed a radio programme called La Voz de la Region Lima Provincias on Radio Union TV S.A. The station cancelled his slot in 2013, citing repeated use of offensive language. Gago argued the decision was arbitrary and violated his freedom of expression.
