FILE - Bolivia’s Government Minister Arturo Murillo walks down a set of stairs at the government palace in La Paz, Bolivia, Jan. 28, 2020. (AP Photo/Juan Karita, File)
Former interior minister arrested upon arrival in Bolivia after deportation from US
LA PAZ, Bolivia (AP) 鈥 Bolivia鈥檚 incendiary former interior minister was arrested at the airport Thursday after being deported from the United States to face a litany of charges, including crimes against humanity for ordering a deadly crackdown on anti-government protesters in 2019.
FILE - Bolivia’s Government Minister Arturo Murillo walks down a set of stairs at the government palace in La Paz, Bolivia, Jan. 28, 2020. (AP Photo/Juan Karita, File)
LA PAZ, Bolivia (AP) 鈥 Bolivia鈥檚 incendiary former interior minister was arrested at the airport Thursday after being deported from the United States to face a litany of charges, including crimes against humanity for ordering a deadly crackdown on anti-government protesters in 2019.
The deportation of Arturo Murillo follows his release in June after serving four years in a in which he was accused of taking $532,000 in bribes to help a Florida company win a to his government.
on a flight to Bolivia, where he has been tried and sentenced in absentia in two of the many cases against him. In addition to the homicide and crimes against humanity charges, he faces accusations of money laundering, abuse of authority, aggravated theft and influence鈥恜eddling in his purchase of overpriced tear gas to use against protesters.
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
U.S. authorities accompanying Murillo turned him over to their Bolivian counterparts after landing in the eastern province of Santa Cruz. Murillo was promptly whisked on another flight to the capital of La Paz, where prosecutors say they plan to transfer him to the maximum-security Chonchocoro prison.
鈥淢urillo must end up in a prison in the city of La Paz,鈥 Attorney General Roger Marica told reporters. 鈥淚t will be up to the judges, but there are already arrest warrants against him.鈥
Murillo鈥檚 prosecution in Bolivia will be a test of the independence of the judiciary in this politically polarized nation, ordered a review of detention orders against right-wing opposition leaders the long-ruling Movement Toward Socialism, or MAS, party.
Murillo, 61, served as interior minister under then-interim President Jeanine 脕帽ez, a conservative Christian senator who took power in November 2019 after former president and resigned under pressure from the military as shook the country.
a key case against 脕帽ez of her jailed political allies under lenient house arrest arrangements.
The series of court decisions reopened wounds from Bolivia鈥檚 2019 crisis that left at least 37 people dead and dozens wounded 鈥 the vast majority civilians protesting Morales鈥 ouster 鈥 after 脕帽ez took power in what many saw as a coup.
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
As interior minister, Murillo referred to his political opponents as 鈥渘arco-terrorists鈥 and 鈥渁nimals,鈥 and led the deadly police crackdown on protests that drew sharp rebuke from human rights groups. The Organization of American States鈥 human rights watchdog reported evidence of 鈥渕assacres,鈥 鈥渟ystematic torture鈥 and 鈥渟ummary executions鈥 by security forces.
During his time in power, Murillo also brought charges against Morales for sedition and terrorism, memorably dangling a pair of handcuffs at a press conference in which he promised to 鈥渉unt down鈥 Bolivia’s first Indigenous president.
On Thursday, it was Murillo in handcuffs as he was escorted to the main investigative police station in La Paz ahead of a court hearing.
鈥淗e must be held accountable,鈥 said Government Minister Roberto R铆os at a press conference.
