Court in Bolivia nullifies arrest warrant for ex-President Evo Morales
Revised Article:
In a surprising turn of events, a Bolivian judge has reportedly rescinded the arrest warrant issued against Evo Morales over allegations of "trafficking" a minor from 2015. The decision, made public on April 30, came just days before the country's presidential election, where Morales is running for a fourth term.
The prosecution had initially sought Morales' arrest back in October, but he had found refuge in his stronghold in the Chapare region where the police refrained from interfering. The recent decision, according to Judge Lilian Moreno's ruling, overturns all arrest orders, investigative, and procedural acts against Morales.
Evo Morales was overjoyed by the news. He tweeted, "After all this time, justice has been served." He also praised the first instance decision as a result of his ongoing struggles.
The prosecution claimed that Morales had a relationship with a 15-year-old girl in 2015, with her parents' approval, in exchange for benefits. Morales has categorically denied these allegations and argues that an earlier investigation in the same case was closed in 2020. A fresh investigation was launched in 2024, focusing on trafficking charges instead of sexual abuse.
Judge Moreno accepted the defense's argument that the prosecutor's office had no right to continue investigating a case that had already been closed. This isn't the first time that Judge Moreno and Morales have crossed paths in the judicial arena. In October 2024, she had already canceled an initial arrest warrant issued by the prosecution in the same case, only for her decision to be overturned by a higher court.
The president of the Council of Magistrates, Manuel Baptista, announced an investigation against Judge Moreno following the decision. He stated that if the decision was found to be contrary to the law, the judge would face sanctions according to their regulations.
The defense welcomes the decision, claiming that Morales can now freely move throughout Bolivia as his constitutional rights have been restored. However, Morales' legal troubles persist as he faces allegations of human trafficking, which continue to fuel political instability over his eligibility for office.
Evo Morales has accused the current government of President Luis Arce, his former Minister of Economy, of judicial persecution as he seeks to return to power. At the end of 2024, the constitutional court confirmed the ban on a president serving more than two terms. Luis Arce, 61, is the ruling leftist party's candidate for the presidency, but he has yet to officially announce his candidacy. Pre-election polls place him as the likely loser, with decreasing popularity due to the economic crisis facing the country.
- The recent decision by Judge Lilian Moreno overturned all arrest orders against Evo Morales, who had initially been sought for 'trafficking' charges in April 2015.
- Evo Morales, a leftist former president, was overjoyed as justice was served, confirming in a tweet that after all this time, the case had been resolved.
- The defense supporting Morales welcomes the decision, asserting that he can now move freely throughout Bolivia as his constitutional rights have been restored.
- The uncertainty surrounding Morales' eligibility for office continues to stir controversy in Bolivian politics, with allegations of human trafficking further fueling the political unrest caused by his legal troubles.
