Bolivian court orders ex-president jailed for 5 months on corruption charges

Former Bolivian President Ordered to Five-Month Detention in Corruption Case

A Bolivian court has ordered former President Luis Arce to remain in custody for five months while awaiting trial on corruption charges, intensifying political tensions in the South American nation. The ruling came during a virtual hearing on Friday, just two days after Arce’s unexpected arrest on the streets of La Paz.

Arce, 62, who left office last month following the election of Bolivia’s first right-wing president in nearly two decades, was transferred to one of La Paz’s largest prisons Friday night. He faces charges of breach of duty and financial misconduct, which could result in a six-year prison sentence if convicted.

The case centers around allegations that millions of dollars were diverted from a state fund into private accounts during Arce’s tenure as economy minister under former President Evo Morales from 2006 to 2017. The scandal initially emerged in 2017, but investigations stalled during Morales’ presidency as Bolivia’s courts showed deference to the political establishment.

The investigation was revived when conservative President Rodrigo Paz took office last month, ending almost two decades of dominance by the Movement Toward Socialism (MAS) party. Paz campaigned on anti-corruption pledges amid Bolivia’s worst economic crisis in forty years, promising to clean up government and pursue justice for past wrongdoing.

During Friday’s hearing, Arce vehemently denied the charges, calling himself a “scapegoat” and insisting the accusations were politically motivated. “I had no personal involvement in the government fund under scrutiny,” he told the judge, referring to a program that supported Indigenous people and peasant farmers who formed the core of MAS support.

Officials familiar with the initial investigation allege Arce diverted money from rural development projects to secure loyalty from MAS-allied union and Indigenous leaders during election campaigns. The alleged misuse of funds targeted resources intended for vulnerable populations, a factor cited by Judge Elmer Laura in his ruling.

“These are crimes that directly affect state assets and resources that were allocated to vulnerable sectors,” Laura stated while ordering the five-month detention—exceeding the prosecution’s request for a three-month confinement in a juvenile detention center.

Arce’s legal team had appealed for his release pending trial, citing his previous battle with kidney cancer, but the judge denied the request.

The case represents a significant shift in Bolivia’s political landscape following Paz’s election victory. Arce, a prominent MAS party leader, had won the presidency in 2020 following the controversial ouster of his predecessor and party founder, Evo Morales. Morales had served three consecutive terms but was forced to resign in 2019 amid accusations of election fraud and widespread protests when he sought an unprecedented fourth term.

Arce’s presidency was marked by economic challenges, as Bolivia struggled with inflation, dwindling foreign reserves, and fuel shortages. These economic troubles contributed to voter dissatisfaction and ultimately helped Paz secure his victory, ending the MAS party’s long hold on power.

The prosecution of a former president highlights the continuing polarization in Bolivian politics and raises questions about judicial independence. While supporters of President Paz view the case as necessary accountability for corruption, MAS loyalists characterize it as political persecution aimed at dismantling the party’s influence.

As Bolivia navigates this politically charged prosecution, the case will likely remain a flashpoint in the ongoing struggle between the country’s left-wing movement and the newly empowered conservative government led by President Paz.