Former fiscal Luis Carlos Torrez sent to six-month preventive detention at San Pedro
The former departmental fiscal of La Paz was sent to San Pedro prison for drug trafficking and criminal organisation. His defence denies that weapons or money were found during the search.
Former La Paz fiscal remanded in custody following Mariaca operation
The judge overseeing the detention hearing for former departmental fiscal of La Paz Luis Carlos Torrez ruled to remand him for six months at San Pedro prison, accused of trafficking in controlled substances and criminal organisation, reports El Deber. His defence lawyer, Marvin Astorga, immediately challenged the validity of the search and denied that weapons or money were found at his client's home.
"It is false that a weapon was found at his home, it is false that money and other items were found at his home; that is why all these elements, all these arguments put forward and used by the Public Ministry will be demonstrated in the course of the investigation," Astorga stated.
Torrez was arrested on Thursday and taken directly to FELCN cells, the unit in charge of the investigation. The detention occurred in the framework of the Mariaca operation deployed by the Government. Despite the charges involving drug trafficking, authorities did not seize any type of controlled substance in any of the operations carried out.
The defence appealed the judicial ruling. Astorga argued that several elements necessary to sustain the measure were lacking, including the probability of authorship of the alleged crimes. The lawyer ruled out referring to possible political persecution and said he would focus his strategy on technical arguments.
The Torrez case is part of an investigation known as the Roma case. At the time of publication, the former fiscal remained detained in FELCN cells, with no confirmed schedule for his transfer to San Pedro prison in the city of La Paz.
Source: El Deber