General who led coup attempt in Bolivia receives 6 months in preventive prison

Bolivian general Juan José Zúñiga has been sentenced to six months of “preventive detention” for his role in leading a failed coup against the government earlier this week, a top prosecutor said Friday (28).

Bolivia’s Attorney General requested the six-month detention and said other government bodies, including the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of the Interior, supported the request “due to the importance and seriousness of the events that occurred,” state prosecutor Cesar Siles said. .

“This preventive detention that the judge orders will undoubtedly set a precedent and a good sign so that this investigation can continue to move forward,” added Siles.

The general had led military units that gathered in the main square of the capital La Paz, home to Bolivia’s presidential palace and congress. An armored vehicle rammed the building’s door to allow soldiers to enter the palace on Wednesday (26).

The former head of the Bolivian Army had been charged by the country’s Public Ministry with the crimes of terrorism and armed uprising earlier this Friday (28).

According to the Bolivian prosecutor, Zúñiga was indicted for terrorism, which carries between 15 and 20 years in prison, as well as armed revolt, which can carry a sentence of 5 to 15 years.

The general said he was following an order from President Luis Arce, who denied having any involvement or prior knowledge of the Zúñiga operation.

The former head of the Armed Forces was arrested on Wednesday night (26), hours after, according to President Luis Arce and the Public Ministry, having led the failed uprising that lasted a few hours in which armored vehicles and a group of soldiers entered the Government Palace.

So far, 21 people have been arrested for Wednesday’s events, including Zúñiga.

See photos of the attempted coup in Bolivia: