Jhonny Fernández hearing suspended over embezzlement of Bs 191 million in Santa Cruz
The former mayor's precautionary measures hearing was postponed to 9 November after his lawyer's voice loss. Fernández denies the charges and denounces a "political setup".
Former Santa Cruz mayor's hearing postponed to 9 November
El Deber reports that the precautionary measures hearing of Jhonny Fernández, former mayor of Santa Cruz de la Sierra, was suspended on Thursday, 22 October at the Tenth Court of Criminal Investigation. The reason: the defence lawyer arrived with voice loss and could barely speak. The judicial proceeding was rescheduled for 9 November.
Fernández faces proceedings for alleged misappropriation of funds linked to 17 municipal works. According to municipal authorities, Bs 191 million destined for projects that remained incomplete or were never executed would have been diverted, including the construction of the fourth ring viaduct and the dual carriageway to La Guardia.
The hearing was scheduled for 10:00 in the morning. Although Fernández appeared before the court, the proceeding could not take place.
Upon arriving at the tribunal, the former mayor rejected the accusations and maintained that the proceedings respond to political interests. Regarding the viaduct funds, he claimed that the resources remain in the Municipality's accounts and that the settlement of accounts proves it. "That matter of the viaduct funds: the resources entered the Municipality, no one has taken them out. They entered into a Municipality account, they are there in the settlement of accounts. All of this is a political setup, nothing more," he stated.
Fernández pointed directly at the current mayor of Santa Cruz, known as 'Mamén' Saavedra, whom he held responsible for orchestrating what he called the "political setup". He argued that the accusation seeks to cover up the lack of works in the current municipal administration.
"Do you know how much money the mayor has already received? Bs 1,800 million as of yesterday. Where are the resources that I left approved for the school bonus? They already raised fares for people and the school bonus that was in the 2026 budget they removed it," Fernández said. He also questioned the absence of school breakfast for secondary school, committed to by the current administration.
The former mayor announced that he would present the corresponding settlement of accounts at the next hearing, scheduled for more than two weeks away.
Source: El Deber