Bolivian authorities issue arrest warrant for ex-President Morales for allegedly trafficking minor

Bolivian authorities have issued an arrest warrant for ex-President Evo Morales, who is accused of trafficking a 15-year-old while he was in office from 2006 to 2019, prosecutor Sandra Gutierrez confirmed, according to a report on Tuesday.

Gutierrez said the warrant was initially issued on Oct. 16 but she chose not to publicly discuss the situation until now.

"The case is very complex," Gutierrez said at a news conference.

She said the former president could serve a sentence of 10 to 15 years if he is found guilty.

Morales, 65, has denied the allegations. He responded publicly to the arrest warrant on the social media platform X on Tuesday.

"I denounce to the world that I am the victim of a brutal judicial war (lawfare) carried out by the government of Luis Arce, who promised to hand me over to the US as a trophy of war," he wrote.