Prosecutors in Bolivia have requested the arrest of former President Evo Morales in connection to a sexual abuse investigation involving his alleged fathering of a child with a 15-year-old girl. The arrest warrant, pending judge approval, was issued after Morales failed to comply with an order to testify in the case.
Morales, who governed Bolivia for 13 years until 2019, has been residing in the rural area of Chapare, surrounded by loyal supporters, since reports of his potential arrest emerged in September. The allegations against Morales involve a child he is said to have had with a teenage girl in 2016, a relationship that would constitute statutory rape under Bolivian law.
While Morales has not yet responded to the arrest order, he has previously denied any wrongdoing and accused his chosen successor, leftist Luis Arce, of colluding with his adversaries to prevent him from participating in the upcoming presidential election.
Claiming that there is a concerted effort to eliminate him politically and physically, Morales has been vocal about what he perceives as a plot against him. In a recent incident, police faced resistance from Morales' supporters during a confrontation, with the supporters alleging that the authorities were using excessive force.
As the situation unfolds, the public remains attentive to developments in the case, which has significant implications for Bolivia's political landscape. For more updates on this story and other news from Latin America and the Caribbean, visit AP's Latin America and Caribbean coverage.
