Bolivia Court Issues Arrest Warrant for Evo Morales After Trial No-Show
A Bolivian court in Tarija declared former President Evo Morales in rebellion and issued an arrest warrant after he failed to appear for his trial on aggravated human trafficking charges. The proceedings, stemming from allegations of a relationship with a minor in 2016, were suspended indefinitely. Morales, who denies the charges as political persecution, remains in hiding in the Chapare region protected by supporters. This judicial escalation intensifies political tensions in Bolivia, with Morales’ defense citing procedural defects and claiming the trial is a tool of the current government to undermine him.
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Bolivian Court Declares Evo Morales a Rebel After Trial No-Show
The First Sentencing Court of Tarija, Bolivia, declared former President Evo Morales in rebellion on May 11, 2026, after he failed to appear for the opening of his oral trial on charges of aggravated human trafficking. Consequently, the court reissued an arrest warrant, imposed a national territorial restraining order, and ordered a preventive freeze on his assets. The trial has been suspended indefinitely until Morales or his co-accused surrender or are captured. The charges stem from allegations that Morales fathered a child with a minor in 2015 while in office, a claim he denies as political persecution. This legal development follows his exclusion from the 2025 presidential election and intensifies a long-standing judicial standoff. Morales faces a potential prison sentence of 15 to 20 years if convicted. The case has seen procedural turbulence, including previous annulments and transfers, but the latest ruling cements his rebel status and reactivates enforcement measures. The current administration under President Rodrigo Paz has not commented on the active arrest order, leaving the matter to the judiciary in Tarija.
The Rio TimesBolivia Issues Arrest Warrant for Evo Morales After Trial No-Show
A Bolivian judge has reissued an arrest warrant for former President Evo Morales after he failed to appear for his trial on charges of trafficking a minor. The court found Morales in contempt, citing his unjustified absence as confirmation of his fugitive status, and imposed a travel ban. Morales is accused of fathering a child with a 15-year-old girl while in office, allegations he firmly denies. His legal team claimed they were not properly notified of the summons. The ruling has intensified political tensions in Bolivia, with Morales’s supporters warning of potential unrest and insurgency if authorities attempt to arrest him. Morales has been sheltering in his stronghold of Chapare since late 2024, protected by indigenous groups who previously blocked roads to prevent his capture. This development marks a significant escalation in the legal and political confrontation between the former socialist leader and the current government, reviving memories of the turmoil surrounding his 2019 resignation.
Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al JazeeraBolivian Court Orders Arrest of Evo Morales for Missing Human Trafficking Hearing
A Bolivian court has issued an arrest warrant for former President Evo Morales after he failed to appear at a hearing in Tarija regarding charges of aggravated human trafficking. The judicial proceedings were suspended until Morales is present, either voluntarily or through enforcement by public forces. Prosecutor Luis Gutiérrez confirmed that the arrest order prevents Morales from leaving the country while the legal process continues. The court appointed public defense lawyers to represent Morales in the absence of his private legal team, noting that no formal justification for his absence was provided. Conversely, Morales’ defense attorney, Wilfredo Chávez, challenged the legality of the proceedings from La Paz. He argued that the summons via judicial edict rather than personal notification constitutes a fundamental defect. Furthermore, Chávez alleged that the reactivation of the case amidst social protests against President Rodrigo Paz’s government indicates political motivation behind the trial. This development marks a significant escalation in the legal challenges facing the former leader, blending judicial procedure with ongoing political tensions in Bolivia.
Perú 21 NewsBolivia Suspends Evo Morales Trial and Renews Arrest Warrant
The trial against former Bolivian President Evo Morales, accused of trafficking a minor, was suspended on May 11, 2026, due to his absence from court. Consequently, the judiciary renewed the arrest warrant and imposed a ban on leaving the country. The Public Ministry alleges Morales had a relationship with a 15-year-old girl, resulting in a child, and claims the victim's parents consented in exchange for benefits. Morales remains in the Chapare region, protected by supporters who prevent police intervention. Prosecutor Luis Gutiérrez stated the trial would remain suspended until Morales and the victim's mother appear or are forcibly detained. Morales’s defense argued they were not properly notified, claiming summons were published via decree rather than delivered personally. The former president denies the charges, labeling them as political persecution by the current center-right government of President Rodrigo Paz. Morales has called for impartial justice and demanded concrete evidence from his accusers. This development follows a January 2025 declaration of Morales as an accused party in absentia, which had previously stalled legal proceedings. The case highlights ongoing political tensions and judicial challenges in Bolivia involving its former long-serving leader.
Folha de S.Paulo - Em cima da hora - PrincipalBolivia Suspends Human Trafficking Trial Against Evo Morales, Orders Arrest
A Bolivian court has suspended the human trafficking trial against former President Evo Morales and issued an arrest warrant after he failed to appear for the proceedings in Tarija. The judge declared Morales in absentia, ordering his detention until he presents himself to justice or is captured by police. Prosecutor Luis Gutiérrez stated that executing the warrant is solely the responsibility of the police, not the Public Ministry. Morales’ defense team argued that the former president was not personally notified, claiming the use of a judicial edict constitutes a fundamental legal defect. They further characterized the timing of the trial as politically motivated amidst social protests against President Rodrigo Paz’s government. Morales has remained in the Cochabamba Tropics since October 2024, protected by supporters who previously blocked roads to prevent arrests. He faces charges of aggravated human trafficking related to an alleged relationship with a minor in 2016. The prosecution cites over 170 pieces of evidence, including witness statements. This development marks a significant escalation in the legal challenges facing the former leader, who had already been declared in absentia during preliminary investigations in early 2025.
Clarin.com - Home - Lo últimoBolivia’s Evo Morales Held in Contempt for Missing Trafficking Trial
A Bolivian judge has held former President Evo Morales in contempt of court after he failed to appear for a trial regarding charges of trafficking a minor. The proceedings, reported by local newspaper La Razon, stem from allegations that Morales engaged in a relationship with a teenager and fathered a child with her in 2016 while serving as president. Morales, who led Bolivia from 2006 to 2019 before resigning amid political turmoil, has been in hiding since late 2024 to avoid an arrest warrant. He resides in his stronghold of Chapare, where supporters have vowed to resist police raids. The former leader has dismissed the charges as part of a brutal judicial and media persecution aimed at annihilating him morally and physically. This recent contempt ruling follows a similar declaration in January 2025 when he missed a pretrial detention hearing. The case has sparked significant polarization, with thousands of supporters protesting the investigation, viewing it as political warfare, while authorities proceed with legal actions in the southern city of Tarija.
News - South China Morning PostBolivian Court Declares Evo Morales in Absentia for Aggravated Trafficking Trial
A Bolivian court has declared former President Evo Morales in absentia after he failed to appear for the start of his trial on charges of aggravated human trafficking. The proceedings began in Tarija, but neither Morales nor his legal team attended. The former leader is accused of engaging in a relationship with a minor that allegedly resulted in the birth of a daughter in 2016, during his presidency. Supreme Court Justice Rosmery Ruiz confirmed the declaration of rebellion against all defendants and ratified existing arrest warrants. Morales has remained in Cochabamba’s Tropics region since late 2024, protected by loyalists who previously blocked roads to prevent his arrest. His defense argues the case was resolved in 2020 and claims the accusations are politically motivated with no actual victim. Despite over 170 pieces of evidence presented by prosecutors, Morales denies the charges, stating on social media that crimes are being invented against him because authorities lack legitimate grounds for prosecution. This development marks a significant escalation in the legal challenges facing the former leftist leader.
Portada // elmundoBolivia's Evo Morales Held in Contempt for Missing Trafficking Trial
A Bolivian judge has held former President Evo Morales in contempt of court after he failed to appear for a trial involving charges of trafficking a minor. The proceedings, reported by local outlet La Razon, stem from allegations that Morales engaged in a relationship with a teenager and fathered a child with her in 2016 while serving as president. Morales, who led Bolivia from 2006 to 2019 as the country's first indigenous leader, resigned amid political turmoil following a disputed election. He has consistently denied the accusations, characterizing them as part of a coordinated campaign of legal and media persecution designed to destroy his reputation and physical well-being. In recent statements on social media platform X, Morales described the charges as fabricated elements of 'legal warfare' waged by the current government. The case has sparked significant controversy, drawing thousands of supporters to protest against the investigation. This latest judicial development marks an escalation in the legal challenges facing the former leader, highlighting the ongoing political tensions in Bolivia regarding accountability and judicial independence.
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