U.S. accused Bolivia’s former president of taking bribes, money laundering and corruption news

The United States accuses Arturo Murillo, Bolivia’s former Minister of the Interior of accepting bribes from American companies and individuals.

The United States has arrested former cabinet ministers in the interim government of Bolivia’s former President Jeanine Anez for bribery and money laundering.

in a statement On Wednesday, the U.S. Department of Justice accused the former Secretary of the Interior Arturo Murillo (Arturo Murillo) and his former staff Sergio Mendez (Sergio Mendez) of “accepting bribes from U.S. companies and individuals to ensure that the Bolivian government contract”.

The department accused the couple of “then using the U.S. financial system to rob these bribes.”

The three U.S. citizens were also charged with a bribery plan between November 2019 and April 2020.

The Justice Department said the Americans were accused of paying $602,000 to Bolivian officials to secure a $5.6 million contract to provide tear gas and other non-lethal equipment to the Bolivian Ministry of Defense.

Five men were charged with one count of conspiracy to launder money. If convicted, they will face up to 20 years in prison.

Murillo was also wanted for sedition for his role in the Anez Provisional Government.

After Bolivia’s first indigenous president, Evo Morales, resigned in November 2019, under pressure from some members of the public, the armed forces and opposition leaders, Anez came to power and resigned .

Morale Back to Exiled from Argentina after exile from his Socialist Movement (MAS) party candidate in November last year won The long-awaited presidential election.

Anez and other former officials are Arrested He was accused of a coup in March.She used to be Order She was detained for four months shortly after her arrest.

But Murillo left Bolivia before the arrest warrant.

He played a central role in hunting down Morales and his main supporters on charges of sedition and terrorism, and was criticized for taking harsh measures against the military and police. protest, Dozens of them were killed.

Human rights groups and international observers criticized the Bolivian government for arresting Anez and his minister, and emphasized the importance of due process.