Bolivian Ex-Ministers Face Eight-Year Sentences Over Irregular Purchase of Tear Gas
A Bolivian court handed down an eight-year prison sentence to two former ministers on Friday for the improper purchase of tear gas and riot gear used to suppress protests by supporters of ex-president Evo Morales in late 2019.
Evo Morales, Bolivia’s first Indigenous president, gained widespread popularity after assuming office in 2006. However, his attempt to bypass the constitution for a fourth term in 2019 sparked controversy.
Although Morales claimed victory, he faced accusations of electoral fraud from the right-wing opposition. This led to his resignation amid widespread and deadly protests, forcing him to flee the country.
Following Morales’ resignation, right-wing interim president Jeanine Anez took office, which reignited protests from Morales’ supporters. Clashes between demonstrators and security forces resulted in 35 deaths, as reported by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.
On Friday, a Bolivian court convicted two former officials from Anez’s interim administration for the improper acquisition of tear gas and military goods in November 2019.
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Arturo Murillo, who served as interior minister, was found guilty of “illegal negotiations,” while then-defense minister Luis Fernando Lopez was sentenced for “contracts harmful to the state,” as stated by the justice ministry.
In January 2023, Murillo was sentenced in the United States to five years and 10 months in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to launder bribe money in the same case.
According to US authorities, Murillo accepted at least $532,000 in bribes from a Florida company to help secure a $5.6 million contract for supplying riot gear to the Bolivian defense ministry.
Luis Fernando Lopez is currently located in Paraguay.
Bolivia remains deeply divided following the events of 2019.
Jeanine Anez was sentenced to 10 years in prison in June 2022 for allegedly instigating a coup against Morales. However, there are ongoing calls from the government and civil society groups for a separate trial addressing the deaths of protesters.
Current President Luis Arce, once an ally of Morales who returned to Bolivia in October 2020, now faces a power struggle with Morales, which has further fueled political instability in the country.
Bolivian Ex-Ministers Face Eight-Year Sentences Over Irregular Purchase of Tear Gas
