Order the arrest of Evo Morales for child abuse and human trafficking

A Bolivian judge ordered Evo Morales's arrest this Friday after he failed to appear in court as a precautionary measure against him.

The former president is being investigated for an alleged case of abuse against a minor that occurred in 2016, when he was head of state.

Morales was supposed to appear in Tarija this Tuesday, but he claimed health problems. His absence postponed the hearing to this Friday with warnings.

Judge Nelson Rocabado rejected the medical reports presented by Morales's team, deeming them insufficient and invalid.

"They don't prove any impediment or difficulty to attend court," the judge noted, who also declared the former Bolivian president in contempt.

As part of the precautionary measures, the judge ordered Morales's bank accounts to be frozen and his assets to be registered preventively.

Since 2026, the Bolivian justice system has been investigating Morales for alleged abuse of a 15-year-old minor, a case from which a daughter is said to have been born.

The case involves the victim's father, who is detained, while the mother remains missing. Both are reportedly politically connected.

The human trafficking complaint adds to other accusations Morales faces after his departure from the presidency in 2019.

The former president claims to be a victim of political persecution, an argument he has used in other legal cases opened against him.

Human rights organizations and Morales's political allies criticize these actions, calling them the judicialization of politics.

However, the alleged victim's defense insists on investigating to the fullest extent to ensure justice.

The situation places Bolivia in a complex debate about justice, political power, and human rights in cases of high public repercussion.

This process could set a precedent in Bolivia, affecting public perception of Morales and his political legacy.

The former president has requested on social media that his right to due process be respected and has categorically denied the accusations.

The judge has indicated that the arrest order is necessary to ensure Morales's presence in the ongoing judicial process.

The Prosecutor's Office doesn't rule out expanding investigations to other possible irregularities during the former indigenous leader's tenure.

This case has caused social polarization, with protests both in favor of and against the former president in different regions of the country.

The coming days will be crucial in defining the scope of this case and the possible political implications in Bolivia and Latin America.