Police counts $us 467,944 and Bs 42,036 found following arrest of Jhonny Fernández in Santa Cruz
The Bolivian Police tallied nearly half a million dollars in the offices of Fundamax following the arrest of former mayor Jhonny Fernández. His defence argues the money has lawful origins.
Nearly half a million dollars seized in Fundamax offices following arrest of former mayor
According to eldia.com.bo, the Bolivian Police carried out an official count of the money seized in the offices of Fundamax following the arrest of the former mayor of Santa Cruz, Jhonny Fernández Saucedo, which occurred on Wednesday. The procedure yielded a total of $us 467,944 and Bs 42,036, according to a report from the head of the Specialised Department for the Fight Against Corruption (DELCC), Alejandro Rada.
The count was conducted in the presence of representatives from the Bolivian Police's Transparency unit and the Public Ministry, with the objective of determining the exact amount of money seized.
The finding occurred as part of the investigation against Fernández Saucedo for the alleged embezzlement of Bs 191 million, resources that were intended for municipal works. The authorities will have to establish the origin of the money and determine whether it is related to the facts under investigation.
During his arrest, the former mayor reportedly stated that some of the funds came from the recent sale of a property. His lawyer, Samuel Durán, assured that the money has lawful origins and announced that he would present documentation to support that version.
In the same operation, the son of the former mayor, Jhonny Fernández Rea, aged 23, was also arrested. According to preliminary reports, he will have to appear before the judicial authority for alleged offences of obstruction of an investigation and harbouring.
Source: Google News BO — Crime