La Paz, Oct 10 (EFE).- Bolivian prosecutor Sandra Gutiérrez announced this Thursday that an arrest warrant will be issued against former President Evo Morales (2006-2019) so that he can testify before the Public Ministry within the investigation that is being carried out against him. in a case of human trafficking and statutory rape.
“What corresponds is that, to issue the arrest warrant since they (Morales and the other investigated) have been duly notified without any violation of any of their rights,” said Gutiérrez, who is the departmental prosecutor of the southern region of Tarija. , where the case is investigated.
According to the complaint in its possession by the Bolivian Prosecutor’s Office, Morales would have committed the crimes of human trafficking and statutory rape with a minor with whom he supposedly had a child.
The victim allegedly belonged to a youth group created by the former president during his Presidency, called ‘Generation Evo’.
Morales was summoned to testify today in Tarija, but his defense presented a memorial not to attend, alleging that there is a constitutional ruling that orders the case to be dealt with in the central region of Cochabamba, where the former president and leader of the government Movement to Socialism lives. (FURTHER).
Gutiérrez pointed out that, in addition to the former president, two other people who are also being investigated in this case were called to testify and who did not appear either.
“For all three it will be the same legal situation, since they have not justified their non-appearance,” he indicated.
The prosecutor explained that “the arrest warrant is going to be issued so that they can appear to present their informative statement” and that they will also respond to the memorials presented by Morales’ defense.
Gutiérrez maintained that “no rights are being violated,” as Morales and his defense lawyers have assured, and stated that “everything is being done in a transparent manner and in accordance with the legal norm.”
Social organizations related to Morales warned today that if the Prosecutor’s Office issues an arrest warrant against the former president, they will begin a national road blockade.
The former Bolivian president, who is distanced from the Government of President Luis Arce, has stated that he will defend himself from this “legal battle”, which for him is a “political persecution” and has indicated that there are more than 200 lawyers who called him to defend him ” for free.”
The complaint against the former president was filed on September 26 at the Tarija Prosecutor’s Office, three days after the arrival in La Paz of a walk led by Morales for various demands, including the validation of a party congress in which he was appointed. “sole candidate” of the MAS for the 2025 general elections.
The Puebla Group, a political and academic forum that is made up of representatives of the political left of Latin America, expressed its concern about the “lawfare campaign” or political judicialization against the MAS leader.
.
#Bolivian #prosecutor #announces #arrest #warrant #Morales #testify #trafficking #case
