Nine Public Prosecutor's Office officials released on bail following hearing in Santa Cruz
Judge Salvatierra released the nine detainees in the Mariaca case owing to insufficient evidence or absence of procedural risks.
Release of Public Prosecutor's Office officials in the Mariaca and Zeballos case
Judge Róger Salvatierra Rocha, head of the Third Criminal Investigation Court on Anti-Corruption and Violence against Women in Santa Cruz, ordered the unconditional release of nine Public Prosecutor's Office officials arrested as part of investigations triggered following the detention of attorney general Róger Mariaca and departmental prosecutor Alberto Zeballos, according to El Deber.
Six of the nine officials were placed at the disposal of the courts under article 228 of the Criminal Procedure Code. Judge Salvatierra determined that there were no sufficient elements or evidence linking them to the investigated crimes and ordered their immediate release.
The remaining three—all drivers for the Public Prosecutor's Office—were charged with improper use of public property and services, classified under article 26 of Law 004 Marcelo Quiroga Santa Cruz, for having driven official vehicles during actions carried out at Mariaca's residence. Although the judge recognised probable authorship of that crime, he determined that there were no procedural risks of flight and also ordered their unconditional release.
Night-time operation and transfer to Mariaca's residence
The nine officials had been arrested during operations on Wednesday evening, when Mariaca and Zeballos were detained at Viru Viru international airport. According to police accounts, following that detention, Public Prosecutor's Office personnel travelled to Mariaca's residence—located in a condominium in the northern area of Santa Cruz—allegedly to remove documentation or other items linked to the investigation.
Police identified three official vehicles from the Public Prosecutor's Office and three private vehicles in that transfer. The three Public Prosecutor's Office drivers who were part of the group were the only ones charged among the nine arrested.
Defence: drivers were following instructions
During the hearing, the lawyers for the three drivers argued that their clients merely obeyed orders from their superiors and that their presence at the locations where they were intercepted corresponded strictly to their work duties. The defence also noted that the drivers had been sent to Viru Viru airport with instructions to pick up Mariaca and Zeballos before they were detained.
Judge Salvatierra weighed the arguments from both sides and, finding no procedural risks that would justify a restrictive precautionary measure, extended unconditional release to the charged drivers as well.
Main investigation continues
The release of the nine officials does not mean the case is closed. Investigations against Mariaca, Zeballos and other individuals continue for the crimes of criminal organisation and trafficking in controlled substances, in addition to other offences attributed individually to those under investigation.
In parallel, four people arrested in an ambulance transporting Bs 3,532,100 and USD 10,000 were transferred to La Paz together with the money and other seized items. Their legal status will be determined at a precautionary hearing scheduled for 05:00 on Saturday. The source of those funds and their possible connection to the investigated facts have yet to be established by the authorities.
Source: El Deber