Former Bolivian Government Minister Arturo Murillo arrested in Florida

(CNN Spanish) – US federal authorities arrested former Bolivian Government Minister Arturo Carlos Murillo this Wednesday in Florida, according to the United States Department of Justice, which accuses him of money laundering and a bribery plan developed between November 2019 and April 2019. 2020.

Murillo was part of the administration of former interim president Jeanine Áñez.

Arturo Murillo joins four other people appointed by the US justice, including his former chief of staff Sergio Rodrigo Méndez.

CNN tried to contact Murillo’s assigned attorney, but we have not yet had a response.

In a statement, the Justice Department indicates that three of the individuals named paid US $ 602,000 in bribes to Bolivian government officials “for the benefit of Murillo” and former chief of staff Sergio Méndez.

It is added that the purpose of these bribes would be to benefit a company based in Florida with a millionaire contract so that it could “obtain and maintain business with the Bolivian Ministry of Defense.” The contract would have been for the purchase of non-lethal equipment and tear gas.

The defendants face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.

According to court documents, Murillo will have a hearing on June 7.

The current Minister of Government of Bolivia, Eduardo del Castillo, said this Wednesday at a press conference that they received the information of the arrest of Arturo Murillo and that they are investigating what he classified as a “mafia clan” of the past Bolivian administration.