Bolivian lawmakers accuse FBF president of organised crime links
LIBRE deputies denounce alleged ties of Fernando Costa, head of the FBF, with a former attorney general and former judge linked to criminal structures.
Complaint against FBF: Costa accused of connections with Mariaca and Saucedo
Bolivian legislators on Thursday denounced alleged links between Fernando Costa, president of the Bolivian Football Federation (FBF), and two judicial figures accused of organised crime: Róger Mariaca, a former attorney general charged with leading a criminal structure, and Rómer Saucedo, a former president of the Higher Court of Justice (TSJ) who fled the country.
According to El Deber, deputy Sofía Rocha from the LIBRE caucus announced that she would request the Public Ministry to open a formal investigation against the FBF. "There is reasonable doubt" over the "relationship, proximity and affinity" between Costa and both officials "since they took office", the legislator stated.
Rocha affirmed that she had evidence and indicated that she would present it to the Public Ministry once proceedings had begun. She was accompanied at the press conference by deputies Mario Reinoso and María Alcón.
The complaint includes accusations of alleged money laundering and indicates that there would be "an interest" in the Legislative Assembly approving a sports incentive bill promoted from the football sector. "Approval is the foundation for committing this money laundering. We know that, not only at national but also international level, major drug traffickers have used sport to launder money they have obtained from organised crime", Rocha stated.
The legislator further indicated that the purpose of the actions is "to clean up Bolivian sport, especially the FBF, which has been used for dark and sinister purposes", and warned that they would go "to the furthest extent" to prevent organised crime from continuing to take root in the country.
Regarding the sports bill, which has already obtained approval in the Senate, Rocha questioned the motives of the favourable vote from several legislators: "Perhaps it was for the little gifts, little trips. Many were given trips to the play-off and to national team matches. Let's see if they can justify their approval vote".
Source: El Deber