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A former minister of the Bolivian transitional government has been arrested in the United States

Former Minister of the Transitional Government of Bolivia was arrested and remanded in custody in the United States as part of a corruption investigation, The US government announced on Wednesday.

Former Secretary of the Interior Arturo Murillo, 57, former Secretary of State Sergio Mendes and three U.S. businessmen were arrested May 21 and 22 in Florida and Georgia, according to a Justice Department press release.

The Americans, According to the indictment, they suspect that from November 2019 to April 2020 they bribed the Bolivians with $ 602,000 to secure a public contract for the purchase of tear gas in exchange. intended for the Ministry of Defense of the Andean state.

The five are being prosecuted for money laundering and face sentences of up to 20 years in prison.

An arrest warrant has been issued for Mr Mourinho for “stopping” in his homeland, a charge also borne by former caretaker President Giannini Anies.

The former senator of the right, who ruled Bolivia from November 2019 to November 2020, and Several of her cabinet ministers have been facing a “coup” investigation since mid-March against socialist former president Evo Morales.

Ms Anies and two of her former ministers were arrested and remanded in custody in their home country. In late March, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken called for their release.

Mr Mourinho left the country before being arrested.

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