In a significant legal development, a Bolivian judge has mandated the arrest of former President Evo Morales following his non-appearance at a precautionary measures hearing related to an aggravated human trafficking case. Judge Nelson Rocabado, from the Fifth Anti-Corruption and Violence Against Women Criminal Court in Tarija, issued the arrest warrant on Friday, concurrently imposing national travel restrictions and ordering the freezing of Morales’ assets and bank accounts. The full article detailing these events can be accessed here.
This judicial action arises after Morales missed a prior hearing set for January 14, which his legal team contended was due to health issues. Subsequent medical documentation provided by Morales, indicating bronchopneumonia and bradycardia, was ultimately dismissed by the court, leading to a charge of contempt against him. Prosecutors, led by Sandra Gutiérrez, are expediting processes to implement the new arrest order, as covered in Urgentebo.
The allegations that form the basis of this case trace back to accusations from 2015, during Morales’ presidency. They revolve around a purported illicit relationship with a minor, who later gave birth. The investigation, initiated under Bolivia’s Criminal Code, suggested the minor’s parents had solicited her involvement with Morales’ youth programs for political gain, as detailed in the El Colombiano.
Morales’s defense staunchly protests his innocence, framing the proceedings as a political maneuver orchestrated by the current administration under President Luis Arce, Morales’ erstwhile ally turned political adversary. As part of their defense strategy, Morales’ legal team has indicated plans to pursue a constitutional protection action while challenging Judge Rocabado’s conduct.
This legal saga unfolds amidst a broader political context marked by tension between Morales and Arce, who have been vying for influence over the ruling party. Morales, who had aspirations for another presidential run, faces serious legal and political hurdles following Bolivia’s Constitutional Court issuing an order effectively barring his reelection ambitions in late 2024. His resignation in 2019 amidst allegations of election fraud, and subsequent political shifts in Bolivia under interim leadership, provide a complex backdrop to the current proceedings, as analyzed by Human Rights Watch.
The case continues to unfold, with political alliances and past events intricately woven into its narrative, reflecting the challenges and dynamics of Bolivia’s current political and legal environment.