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The Bolivian Attorney General’s Office reported on Friday that the investigation process for alleged human trafficking involving former President Evo Morales (2006-2019) is ongoing although it will remain on hold for 10 days.
“It should be noted that this case, due to its nature and relevance, has been declared confidential ,” said the director of the Specialized Prosecutor’s Office for Gender Crimes, Alejandra Rocha, at a press conference in Sucre, the capital of the Andean country.
Lawyer Sandra Gutiérrez denounced on Wednesday that she was dismissed from her position as departmental prosecutor of Tarija (south) for refusing to stop an arrest warrant against the former governor, investigated for the crime of human trafficking, which was later left without effect by a court order.
The complaint against Morales is for the alleged “rape” of a 15-year-old girl and for creating a network of young people to have at his disposal during his presidency, which he allegedly called “Generation Evo.”
Prosecutor Rocha said today that Gutiérrez made a series of ” serious errors ” in the legal activities he carried out in this case, such as having “violated the confidentiality” of the process.
“We must respect this provision that has been assumed in judicial reserve for 10 days, where the rights must be safeguarded above all; in this case, those of the victims,” said the representative of the Attorney General’s Office and added that the process for the crime of trafficking will continue.
Bolivian President Luis Arce described the case against Morales as “extremely sensitive” yesterday and asked that it be declared “secret” so that it does not become politicized and to protect the alleged victim.
Prosecutor who uncovered the case against Evo Morales is dismissed
Former prosecutor Gutiérrez said that “the background of the case comes from an intelligence report” and denounced that the State Attorney General, Juan Lanchipa , ordered “absolutely nothing to be done.”
Lanchipa denied having halted the investigation and said Gutiérrez was dismissed for committing procedural errors and “negligent conduct.”
Prosecutor Rocha added today that Gutiérrez made the mistake of “keeping the arrest warrant against Morales in a sealed envelope” “for five days” and not uploading it to the digital system where the records of all criminal proceedings are kept.
