Ex La Paz prosecutor held on remand for drug trafficking linked to Mariaca case
Bolivian courts have ordered six months' pre-trial detention for Luis Carlos Torrez, former departmental prosecutor of La Paz, who is under investigation for drug trafficking and criminal organisation.
Pre-trial detention for ex La Paz prosecutor in drug trafficking case linked to Mariaca
Bolivian courts have ordered six months' pre-trial detention for Luis Carlos Torrez, former departmental prosecutor of La Paz, who is under investigation for alleged drug trafficking and criminal organisation offences. According to infobae.com, the case also involves former attorney general Roger Mariaca and senior members of the judiciary.
The magistrate ordered Torrez's transfer to San Pedro prison in the Bolivian capital. Until the date and time of his admission is confirmed, he remains in custody of the Special Anti-Narcotics Force (FELCN).
Defence denies charges and announces appeal
Defence lawyer Marvin Astorga rejected the accusations and announced that he would challenge the ruling. "It is false that a weapon was found at his residence, it is false that money and other items were found at his residence," Astorga said in statements reported by Bolivian newspaper El Deber.
The defence also questioned the probability of authorship attributed by the prosecution. "According to the technical defence criteria of Mr Torrez, several elements would not concur, including the probability of authorship of the offences with which he is being charged," the lawyer argued. Astorga indicated that the strategy would focus on technical arguments and avoided commenting on any possible political motivation for the proceedings.
Arrest in context of Mariaca investigation
Torrez's arrest took place in early October in the context of investigations that also led to the detention of former attorney general Mariaca, who is accused of capital trafficking and drug trafficking, among other former officials.
The Bolivian Police continue gathering information with support from international bodies. Government Minister Marco Antonio Oviedo said that security forces are carrying out operations at properties allegedly linked to Mariaca and that a commission of prosecutors is participating in the proceedings.
"There is a commission of prosecutors, we are also working with international cooperation, we receive information from several countries because crime, as you know, has no borders," Oviedo said following events marking the 43rd anniversary of the Rural Patrol Mobile Unit (Umopar) in Santa Cruz de la Sierra.
The minister described crimes such as money laundering, money washing and support for drug trafficking as "cross-cutting issues" that operate "with a gigantic amount of influence, resources and properties," a factor which, he said, complicates investigations.
Mariaca detained in Potosí; investigations extend to Santa Cruz valleys
Mariaca remains confined in Cantumarca prison in Potosí. The investigation names him as the alleged leader of a criminal organisation that allegedly covered up drug trafficking activities linked to Sebastián Marset.
Oviedo confirmed that the former attorney general "is under the jurisdiction of Bolivian courts, which is where the investigations are being carried out." The minister also reported on proceedings in the valleys of Santa Cruz, in the areas of La Yunga and Mairana. "That is where police are providing evidence and obviously respecting due process," he said.
(With information from Europa Press)
Source: Google News BO — Crime