Congresswoman Cecilia Tait, who recently defected from Toledo's political party, came out strongly in Bardales' defense. "She's been involved in these issues only because she worked in the government palace," Tait told the daily newspaper Peru 21. "I think they want to raise this issue to the level of the Lewinsky case," Tait said, referring to the White House aide whose sexual relationship with former President Clinton eventually led to Clinton's impeachment.
The latest scandal swirling around President Alejandro Toledo involves Lt. Lady Bardales, an attractive 23-year-old policewoman who posed on the cover of Peru's leading news magazine in a black sleeveless sweater and tight red jeans with her midriff exposed and 9 mm pistol drawn.
Peru Policewoman at Center of Sex Scandal
By RICK VECCHIO, Associated Press
Caption: Love interest: Rumours that Peruvian police Lieutenant Lady Bardales was supposedly romantically involved with President Alejandro Toledo were strictly fodder for Peru's tabloid press, which dubbed her Lady "Bi" - an allusion to Britain's Princess Diana. Photo: AP
LIMA, Peru -- The latest scandal swirling around President Alejandro Toledo involves an attractive 23-year-old policewoman who posed on the cover of Peru's leading news magazine in a black sleeveless sweater and tight red jeans, with her midriff exposed and 9 mm pistol drawn.
For months, rumors that police Lt. Lady Bardales was romantically involved with Toledo were strictly fodder for Peru's tabloid press, which dubbed her Lady "Bi" -- an allusion to Britain's Princess Diana.
But then last month, Bardales' brother, a policeman in the northern coastal city of Chiclayo, allegedly beat up a television news reporter who had shown up to interview her family.
With the April 2006 general elections fast approaching, Peru's legislature, quickly pounced.
A congressional commission subpoenaed Bardales to explain how she purchased $47,000 worth of farm land and a 1997 red Honda Accord on a monthly police salary of $553.
The commission's president said the probe was strickly to determine if she had received favors from someone who made use of public funds. Bardales arrived at Congress on Monday with two lawyers and a phalanx of bodyguards.
Some lawmakers were infuriated when the commission, stacked with legislators aligned with Toledo's government, agreed to Bardales' request to hear her testimony in closed door session -- an action usually reserved for issues of national security.
Congresswoman Susana Higuchi, the ex-wife of former President Alberto Fujimori, was widely quoted in Peru's tabloids Wednesday asking rhetorically:
"If she didn't have a sentimental relationship with the president ... why would she ask to go into a reserved session?"
Opposition Congressman Mauricio Mulder, of the left-leaning Aprista party, succeeded, however, in getting Congress to lift banking secrecy to investigate Bardales' finances.
Earlier this month, Bardales told Caretas magazine that the land was an inheritance from her great aunt, who before dying faked the land sale to sidestep probate challenges. She also said that she was a member of first lady Eliane Karp's personal security team, not the president's, as had been widely reported.
Bardales added that she was trained in hand-to-hand combat and the use of handguns, assault rifles and Mini Uzi submachine guns.
Congresswoman Cecilia Tait, who recently defected from Toledo's political party, came out strongly in Bardales' defense.
"She's been involved in these issues only because she worked in the government palace," Tait told the daily newspaper Peru 21.
"I think they want to raise this issue to the level of the Lewinsky case," Tait said, referring to the White House aide whose sexual relationship with former President Clinton eventually led to Clinton's impeachment.
