Former mayor Jhonny Fernández not found after police operations in Santa Cruz
Bolivian police searched for the former mayor at two locations in Santa Cruz without success. Fernández was declared in contempt of court for failing to attend his preliminary detention hearing.
Failed operation: police fail to locate Jhonny Fernández in Santa Cruz
According to El Deber, officers of the Bolivian Police carried out operations on Tuesday at various locations in Santa Cruz de la Sierra to locate former mayor Jhonny Fernández, against whom an arrest warrant has been issued. The uniformed officers first went to a media outlet where Fernández is listed as an employee and then to a private clinic in the capital of Santa Cruz. He was found at neither location.
The arrest warrant was issued as part of the judicial process investigating the alleged diversion of Bs 191 million allocated to 17 municipal works. The Public Prosecutor's Office requested the preventive detention of the former mayor following his failure to attend the preliminary detention hearing, at which he was declared in contempt of court.
Prosecutor Gary Flores explained that, given that no justification was provided for Fernández's absence, the Public Prosecutor's Office formally requested both the declaration of contempt and the issuance of the arrest warrant. Flores added that he is unaware of the reasons why the former mayor did not appear and that there are guarantees for him to present himself to the courts.
Through a statement released on Tuesday afternoon, Fernández stated that his personal liberty and due process are at risk. He demanded that independent and impartial justice be guaranteed and questioned that the hearing, initially scheduled for 9 November, was moved up to 27 October.
"This succession of decisions is not a minor matter," Fernández stated, who called for the change of date, the declaration of contempt and the arrest warrant to be explained "with clear legal grounds, transparency and respect for procedural norms". The former mayor clarified that he does not seek privileges or special treatment, but rather that the law be complied with and the procedural guarantees corresponding to every person be respected.
His lawyer, Samuel Durán, indicated that Fernández will present himself to the judicial authorities, though he conditioned his appearance on prior guarantees being offered.
For his part, the current mayor of Santa Cruz, Carlos Manuel Saavedra, reacted through his social media questioning the management of the previous administration. "Now it is time for them to answer, to assume responsibility for having betrayed the people who gave them their trust," Saavedra wrote.
The preliminary detention hearing was held despite the former mayor's absence, which formalised the process that resulted in the current arrest warrant.
Source: El Deber