Bolivia Arrests Paz Adviser Fernando Cerimedo in Attempted Femicide Case as $44,000 Is Seized
Updated
Updated · WRAL News · Aug 21
Bolivia Arrests Paz Adviser Fernando Cerimedo in Attempted Femicide Case as $44,000 Is Seized
3 articles · Updated · WRAL News · Aug 21
Summary
Police arrested Fernando Cerimedo on Tuesday after prosecutors accused the presidential adviser of ordering the shooting of lawyer Nadia Beller, who says she holds evidence of corruption involving him and people close to President Rodrigo Paz.
Beller, 33, was shot three times outside a hotel by two men posing as delivery workers; a medical report she shared showed wounds to her breast, arm, neck and shoulders and said she was four to six weeks pregnant.
Raids on four properties linked to Cerimedo seized more than 500,000 bolivianos — about $44,000 — plus dollars, euros and equipment investigators described as a bot farm; Cerimedo denied involvement.
The arrest deepened a bruising week for Paz, who also fired Economy Minister José Gabriel Espinoza after Congress forced him out amid an Audi purchase scandal and anger over inflation, fuel shortages and an 84% diesel price hike.
With a key ally breaking away and only 6 of his original 15 ministers still in place, Paz now faces a weaker hand as he seeks approval for a $1.9 billion IMF deal and other financing.