AFP/Sucre
A Bolivian court sentenced ex-presidential candidate Manfred Reyes Villa, now living in the US, to five years in jail for defrauding the state, court sources said yesterday.
Reyes Villa, a retired military officer, squared off against current President Evo Morales in the 2002 and 2009 elections. He also served as mayor and governor in the department of Cochabamba, before being ousted in a 2008 regional referendum.
Prosecutor Freddy Torrico told reporters outside the courthouse that the criminal proceedings had concluded and Reyes Villa had been sentenced “for committing the crimes of dereliction of duty and conduct detrimental to the economy.”
The opposition leader was charged with financial irregularities during his tenure as Cochabamba governor, in particular for hiring a consulting group for $200,000.
Reyes Villes was one of several opposition candidates to come up on criminal charges following the 2009 vote.
Another, Ruben Costas, seen as one of the leading opponents to socialist Morales, was accused of misuse of public funds, as well as of defamation for allegedly accusing Vice President Alvaro Garcia Linera of accepting money from drug traffickers.
A third former opposition candidate fled to Paraguay.