Former Bolivian Interim Government Minister Arturo Murillo arrested on charges of corruption in the United States

Former minister in Bolivia’s interim government led by Jeanine Áñez arrested on charges of corruption in the United StatesUS authorities said Wednesday.

This is the former Bolivian Minister of the Interior Arturo Murillo, 57 years old. In addition, his former chief of staff was arrested Sergio Mendez, 51, as well as three american businessmenthe Justice Department said in a statement.

According to court documents, The three Americans are suspected of having paid between November 2019 and April 2020 some $ 602,000 in bribes to Bolivian officials for the benefit of Murillo and Méndez.

Bribes were paid in exchange for a tear gas purchase contract for approximately $ 5.6 million intended for the Ministry of Defense of this Andean country.

The three Americans they then laundered payments through bank accounts in Florida and Bolivia and facilitated the delivery of $ 582,000 in cash to Murillo and Méndez.

The five defendants were indicted for money laundering and face up to 20 years in prison.

Murillo is also the subject of a arrest warrant for “sedition, terrorism and conspiracy” in your country, like former interim president Añez.

At the head of the government of Bolivia from November 2019 to November 2020, the former Conservative president and several of her ministers were indicted in mid-March as part of an investigation into an alleged “coup” against former socialist president Evo Morales.

The head of American diplomacy, Antony blink, had asked for his release at the end of March. Murillo had left Bolivia in November of last year.

Extradition to Bolivia

Bolivian government to ask US for extradition of Arturo Murillo and his former chief of staff. The Minister of the Government, Eduardo del Castillo, told a press conference on Wednesday that he would demand the activation of the blue seal against former minister Murillo and his former chief of staff Sergio Méndez, in addition that notes will be sent to the US government for the extradition of the two people.

“Our jurisdiction allows us to carry out this process on Bolivian territory. This is why we want these Bolivians to be tried on the national territory, we want these people to be held responsible, ”said Del Castillo.

Del Castillo showed photographs showing Murillo’s links with Méndez during the press conference and described as Áñez’s “mafia clan” in which he designated Murillo, Méndez and the former Minister of Defense, Fernando López.

The minister explained that the government of Áñez paid $ 5.7 million for the purchase of tear gas, but the Brazilian company Cóndor was paid $ 3.3 million for its acquisition, so there is economic damage to the state of $ 2.3 million.

”Of these $ 2.3 million, 582 thousand went to Rodrigo Méndez and the rest were divided for the gangster clan “, said the minister. He also pointed out that Everything will be done for the country to recover this amount of money.

With information from AFP and EFE

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