Supreme Court President of Bolivia investigated for drug trafficking and bribery
Bolivia's Public Prosecution Service is investigating Romer Saucedo for drug trafficking, organised crime and bribery. The judge left the country with his family and may be in Brazil.
Bolivian Public Prosecution Service opens investigation against Romer Saucedo for drug trafficking and organised crime
Bolivia's Public Prosecution Service is investigating the president of the Supreme Court of Justice, Romer Saucedo, for alleged offences of drug trafficking and criminal organisation, according to biobiochile.cl reported on Friday citing EuropaPress.
The opening of the investigation comes days after the judge announced his departure from the country along with his wife and three children, claiming alleged "persecution" against him and the absence of guarantees for his safety.
The state attorney general, José Urioste, noted that the offences being investigated would not have been committed in the exercise of his functions as head of Bolivia's highest court. However, he clarified that possible actions linked to his position are also being evaluated, including passive bribery and abandonment of duties.
Urioste indicated that Saucedo could be in a city in Brazil, although his location has not been confirmed. The authorities are maintaining inquiries to establish his whereabouts and corresponding immigration alerts have already been activated.
The judge had communicated on Wednesday his decision to leave for "exile", arguing that both he and his family faced a situation of insecurity as a result of what he described as persecution.
The Public Prosecution Service is also investigating evidence that Saucedo allegedly received substantial sums of money in exchange for influencing a judicial ruling. According to details provided by Urioste, the evidence of bribery relates to an alleged payment of more than one million bolivianos—equivalent to approximately 75,000 euros—linked to a ruling of the Constitutional Chamber of Santa Cruz.
The authorities are continuing to investigate the accusations and the circumstances in which the judge left Bolivian territory.
Source: Google News BO — Crime