Judge denies prescription of corruption case against former Bolivian president

A Bolivian judge has denied a request to dismiss the corruption case against former President Luis Arce, who is currently held in preventive detention. The decision means Arce will continue to face charges related to alleged corruption during his time as Economy Minister in Evo Morales' government between 2006 and 2019.

The judicial proceedings on Friday were led by anti-corruption judge Román Castro. Arce's lawyer, Fernando Rivadeneyra, expressed strong disapproval of the ruling, calling it a violation of laws, the constitution, and human rights. He described the judge's decision as an "outrage" and a "prevaricating ruling."

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We take this decision as a violation of the laws, the Constitution, the precepts established in the conventionality bloc (and) as an affront against human rights.

Rivadeneyra argued that the judge failed to consider that the statute of limitations, which he claims applies after eight years, should have dismissed the case as the alleged events occurred over 16 years ago, around 2009. The defense also accused the judge of acting as a prosecutor by estimating the economic damage at over 330 million Bolivian pesos (approximately $54.1 million at the time), when they contend the actual amount did not exceed 7 million Bolivian pesos ($1 million).

Arce, who has been detained since December 2025, faces accusations of dereliction of duty and antieconomic conduct. Prosecutors assert that his actions as minister, not as president, place the case under ordinary jurisdiction rather than a special presidential responsibility trial. The former president's previous attempts to gain release have been denied, and his preventive detention was extended by five months in June, keeping him incarcerated until November.

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This judge has not valued these aspects and, to the detriment of Luis Arce's rights, has determined that an investigation must be carried out on amounts that are not directly individualized.