Former officials investigated for alleged crimes of abuse of influence.  (Photo: El Deber)

La Paz, November 18 (RHC)-- The interim commander general of the Bolivian Police, Jhonny Aguilera, has announced that the former de facto ministers of Government and Defense, Arturo Murillo and Fernando López, respectively, have fled the country.  Murillo is reportedly in Panama and López in Brazil.

Aguilera told local media that Murillo and López used a FAB 046 plane to reach Puerto Suárez, on the Brazilian border, and then headed to different destinations.  Since last November 9th, both ex-mandatories have had arrest warrants for the Tear Gas case.

Immigration reports indicate that the former government leader last left the country before the elections, while López did so in February, which would be contradictory, because the latest news indicates that both left national territory within the past several days.

The former Ministers of the de facto government, Arturo Murillo of Government and Fernando López of Defense left Bolivia on November 9, the police reported. Both have arrest warrants for the purchase of chemical agents with a surcharge of more than $us.2MM. @temasteleSUR pic.twitter.com/xOCHHEMeKe

- Freddy Morales (@FreddyteleSUR) November 17, 2020

The Prosecutor's Office issued arrest warrants against Murillo and López for the Tear Gas case in early November.  The former ministers of Áñez are being investigated for the alleged crimes of abuse of influence and for the purchase of tear gas at a premium.  

One of the prosecutors in the case, Fernando Atanacio, announced on Tuesday that the International Police (Interpol) will be asked to activate the 'blue seal' against the ex-ministers to confirm whether they are outside or inside the country; in addition, the investigations against Marcel Rivas, ex-director general of Immigration, were extended.