La Paz, Bolivia – A Bolivian court on Friday ordered the pre-trial detention of former Bolivian President Luis Arce, two days after his arrest in the capital La Paz, in connection with investigations into corruption allegations dating back to his time as economy minister.
During a video conference hearing, Judge Elmir Lora decided to place Arce in San Pedro prison in La Paz, while the prosecution had requested his pretrial detention for three months.
Arce faces charges of allowing, during his tenure as economy minister under former President Evo Morales (2006–2019), the transfer of public funds to the accounts of local officials, purportedly to finance agricultural projects that were never fully completed. According to investigations, these transfers were made through the Public Fund for the Development of Indigenous Peoples (Fondioc), a government agency that was later discontinued.
The charges against the former president include “dereliction of duty” and “economic misconduct.” Arce denied the charges, asserting from his place of detention that the case was “clearly politically motivated.”
Following the hearing, Arce was taken to San Pedro prison under heavy police guard, according to AFP correspondents.
Arce left the presidency on November 8, ending nearly two decades of socialist rule that began with Evo Morales, and was succeeded by Rodrigo Paz, the center-right leader, who immediately accused the left of leaving behind a country plagued by corruption and mismanagement.
In the same context, the new government launched extensive audits of public institutions, which resulted in corruption charges being brought against a number of former officials at the state oil company YPFB.
These developments come at a time when Bolivia is experiencing its worst economic crisis in 40 years, exacerbated by a severe dollar shortage, which has intensified political and social tensions in the country.
