Lilian Moreno, the judge at the origin of the brief cancellation of the arrest warrant and the charges against former President Evo Morales, prosecuted for the mine of a minor, was arrested on Monday, announced the Bolivian public prosecutor.
The prosecution had ordered in October the arrest of the 65 -year -old indigenous leader who intends to run for a fourth term at the head of the country during the presidential election of August 17.
A few days after the judge’s decision, a court temporarily restored the arrest warrant on Friday and the charges against the former leader (2006-2019).
“Police executed” an arrest warrant against judge Lilian Moreno, said Prosecutor General Roger Mariaca on Monday at a press conference.
Disobedience to constitutional resolutions
The Ministry of Justice had indicated on Sunday that it had denounced the magistrate for the alleged crimes of disobedience to constitutional and prevarication resolutions, that is to say breach of his duties.
This is not the first time that the magistrate made a decision concerning Evo Morales. In October 2024, she had already canceled in this same case a first arrest warrant issued by the prosecution. His decision was then canceled by a higher body.
>> Read also: A judge cancels the proceedings against the former Bolivian president Evo Morales
According to local media, the magistrate was arrested in Santa Cruz, in the east of the country, and led to a commercial flight at La Paz, the administrative capital. Judge Moreno’s lawyer Vladimir Honor said to local media that the arrest was “illegal and arbitrary”.
Judge Moreno had canceled the procedure started in the department of Tarija, in southern Bolivia, ordering its reopening in Cochabamba, the political stronghold of Evo Morales on Wednesday.
“Very serious offense”
Friday, a PAZ judge suspended the effects of his decision. Manuel Baptista, president of the judiciary of the judiciary, said on Monday at a press conference that he did not belong to Judge Moreno to decide which authority should be seized of the case.
There are clues “allowing to consider that there has been a very serious administrative offense”, liable to “revocation”, he added.
He also said that the PAZ judge who canceled Lilian Moreno’s decision was also the subject of disciplinary procedure, not being empowered to re -examine this decision.
AFP/JFE
