Former president of Bolivia, Evo Morales. Photo: EFE.
The defense noted that with the decision to annul part of the case against him, Evo Morales has absolute freedom of movement both within and outside Bolivia.
A judge in the Bolivian department of Santa Cruz annulled the arrest warrant against former President Evo Morales on Wednesday. Morales has been accused of human trafficking.
The decision was confirmed by the former president’s lawyer, Jorge Pérez, who stated that “it was decided to annul all procedural and investigative acts carried out and being carried out by the Public Prosecutor’s Office, headed by the new commission of prosecutors, following the issuance of Constitutional Ruling No. 22 of October 2, 2024.”
According to Pérez, this means annulling the formal indictment, as well as any arrest warrant issued after the ruling of October 2, 2024, and any default order and police arrest warrant against the former Bolivian head of state.
In this regard, the defense noted that with the decision to annul part of the case against him, Evo Morales has absolute freedom of movement both within and outside Bolivia.
For his part, attorney Nelson Cox indicated that after the arrest warrant was issued, “the authorities in Tarija were legally notified.”
It is foreseen that the case will be reopened in a court in Villa Tunari, Cochabamba.
On January 17, former President Morales was reportedly declared in contempt of court after his second absence from a precautionary hearing in the southern city of Tarija.
In addition, he was ordered to be placed under house arrest following reports of an alleged romantic relationship with a young woman in 2016, when he was still president.
According to information from judicial authorities, the minor allegedly became pregnant, and the case was reopened in 2024.
