Corruption Scandal Rocks Bolivia: 10,000 Bolivianos Paid to Dismiss Criminal Case
In a shocking turn of events, it has been revealed that the Public Prosecutor’s Office in Bolivia paid out 10,000 Bolivianos (approximately USD 1,400) to dismiss a criminal case against a citizen who had accused a judge and a prosecutor’s office intern of extortion.
The Case Against the Judge and Prosecutor’s Office Intern
The case dates back to March when the citizen presented a recording of over 50 minutes in which the accused judge coordinated the extortion with the prosecutor’s office official. The citizen alleged that two mediators and a prosecutor’s office intern coordinated with the opposing party to extort her in exchange for issuing a resolution in her favor.
Arrests and Preventive Detention
As a result, the Public Prosecutor arrested the accused judge and the prosecutor’s office intern for the commission of extortion and conspiracy of judges, prosecutors, police, and lawyers. Preventive detention was ordered for the accused officials.
Corruption Cases on the Rise in Bolivia
This is not an isolated incident. In recent months, several high-profile corruption cases have been uncovered in Bolivia, including:
- A congressional representative accused of money laundering
- A minister of environment and water who resigned amid allegations of bribery
- The Bolivian Soccer Federation (BSF) filed a criminal claim against officials, referees, and players alleging a corruption network that manipulated match results. The BSF suspended several matches based on the evidence, but the investigation is ongoing.
Government’s Efforts to Combat Corruption
The government has pledged to continue implementing its Plurinational Policy Against Corruption in 2024, which includes:
- Developing an interoperable risk management system
- Including anticorruption clauses in public contracts
- Strengthening coordination with private sector companies
Regulatory Measures for Anti-Money Laundering
In related news, the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) will progressively regulate new sectors subject to anti-money laundering dispositions.