The case started to unravel when a younger girl from Tarija, recognized by the initials ESNV, accused Morales of rape and sexual abuse, claiming the incidents occurred when she was nonetheless a minor. In line with the investigation, she turned pregnant on the age of 15, with Morales allegedly being the daddy. This declare is backed by paperwork from the Prosecutor’s Workplace, together with the start certificates of the sufferer’s little one, which lists Morales as the daddy.
Nonetheless, this statutory rape allegation isn’t the one case by which Morales is implicated. The investigation suggests he led a community of kid trafficking, allegedly consolidated by means of the “Presidential Youth Guard,” an entity comprised of youngsters, predominantly between the ages of 14 and 15, who had been recruited to serve Morales. Cindy, the younger girl who filed the grievance, was a member of this group.
A key ingredient of the investigation is the start certificates of the sufferer’s daughter, issued in 2018 however exhibiting a birthdate from 2016, when the mom was simply 15 years previous. The leaked doc confirms what had been rumored for years: a secret relationship between Morales and an adolescent throughout his presidency.
Though the connection was stored hidden, in 2020, worldwide media started investigating allegations of a trafficking community tied to Morales. In line with testimonies, mother and father of youngsters recruited into the presidential guard had been allegedly compensated financially in alternate for handing their daughters over to the previous president.
On September 26, 2024, the Tarija Prosecutor’s Office issued an arrest warrant for Morales on fees of human trafficking, smuggling, and statutory rape. Nonetheless, inside hours, the prosecutor main the case was abruptly dismissed, elevating issues of a high-level cover-up operation geared toward defending the ex-president. The prosecutor sustains this was politically motivated.
The case is now steeped in suspicions of corruption and political interference. The prosecutor’s dismissal has been interpreted as an try by Bolivia’s authorities to bury the investigation. Regardless of a number of victims coming ahead and tangible proof, progress has been sluggish, with state-controlled media downplaying the allegations.
Morales, utilizing his appreciable affect, has allegedly manipulated the judicial system to stifle any efforts to analyze him. The kid trafficking community is believed to have thrived below the safety of this energy construction, with youngsters from impoverished rural areas being recruited and promised scholarships or monetary rewards for his or her households in alternate for his or her participation within the presidential guard.
Bolivian Minister of Authorities, Eduardo Del Castillo, revealed that Cindy’s case could also be just the start. In line with investigators, extra girls are stepping ahead, alleging abuse by Morales and his internal circle throughout their teenage years, with many victims being below the age of 14.
The allegations towards Morales add to a broader narrative of corruption, abuse of energy, and manipulation of Bolivia’s judicial system. As extra victims acquire the braveness to talk out, further revelations may floor, additional implicating Morales and intensifying his authorized troubles.
This case underscores the fragility of judicial techniques in international locations the place political energy is used to guard pigs on the prime of the federal government. Regardless of the proof introduced, many people ponder whether justice will actually prevail or whether or not, as has occurred up to now, the case will likely be buried below a cloak of impunity.
Unique by Joana Campos.
María Herrera Mellado es una abogada de EE.UU. y licenciada en España. Doctora en Ciencias Jurídicas y Analista política. La Dra. Herrera es conocida por su amplia experiencia en análisis y consultas en el diseño de políticas públicas, propuestas de ley y gestión en relaciones internacionales.
Su reconocimiento proviene de sus contribuciones al análisis y representación authorized de diversas organizaciones, empresas e individuos que han visto abusados sus derechos humanos, su privacidad o en la inclusión de políticas efectivas fundamentalmente en el ámbito de la transparencia y la rendición de cuentas, así como la lucha contra la corrupción.
Su formación académica y experiencias profesionales la convierten en una voz respetada en el debate público y en el análisis de temas de actualidad sobre todo en los desafíos políticos y legales contemporáneos.
María Herrera Mellado is a U.S.-based lawyer additionally licensed in Spain. She holds a PhD in Authorized Sciences and is called a media authorized and coverage analyst.
Dr. Herrera is acknowledged for her in depth expertise in analyzing and consulting on public coverage design, legislative proposals, and worldwide relations administration.
Her recognition stems from her contributions to the evaluation and authorized illustration of assorted organizations, firms, and people whose human rights or privateness have been violated, or who’ve benefited from the inclusion of efficient insurance policies, primarily within the areas of transparency, accountability, and the struggle towards corruption.
Her educational background {and professional} expertise make her a revered voice in public debate and within the evaluation of present points, notably in up to date political and authorized challenges.