Bolivian minister arrested for alleged acts of corruption

Image source: Bolivian Ministry of Rural Development and Lands, December 2020.

(CNN Spanish) -

The Minister of Rural Development and Lands of Bolivia, Edwin Characayo, was apprehended in La Paz for alleged acts of corruption, the Minister of Government, Eduardo del Castillo, reported this Wednesday in a brief press conference.

Del Castillo pointed out that Characayo was arrested on Tuesday "in flagrante delicto" by members of the Special Force to Fight Crime (FELCC) at the time when he allegedly received more than US $ 20,000 to benefit "using the position he held" "to certain people in the acquisition and reorganization of land ”.

Characayo's lawyer, César Rojas, told local media that his client was “incriminated” and that he did not receive the money.

Asked about this, the Minister of Justice, Iván Lima, stated that they would "never" carry out an act outside the law.

The coordinator of the La Paz Departmental Prosecutor's Office, Sergio Bustillos, told the media that the now former minister is being held in a prison.

He said that he could be charged with "improper use of influence, benefits by reason of office, concussion and own passive bribery."

They are awaiting the development of the audience.

President Luis Arce reacted to the news.

“We comply with the mandate of the people.

Our government will not cover up corruption whoever it comes from.

Mr. Edwin Characayo was apprehended and will be brought to justice accordingly, "he wrote on his Twitter account.

advertising

In a press conference, Lima said that they are committed to respecting due process.

"We are going to give them all the guarantees and we have offered them to those currently detained, that they have a lawyer to defend them, that they can present their arguments and that we have prompt, efficient and timely justice," he said.