August 23, 2024, 7:00 AM
August 23, 2024, 7:00 AM
Following the tracheotomy that María Eidy Roca Justiniano underwent this week, the former minister of Jeanine Añez’s transitional government suffered a complication due to pneumonia.
At the same time, Roca’s family continues to ask that she be removed from the Chinese respirator case due to her serious health condition, arguing that she was not even an authority when the questionable purchase was made.
The former minister faces charges of contracts harmful to the State, uneconomic conduct and breach of duty, related to the acquisition of 324 Chinese respirators during the pandemic.
Lady Roca, the former minister’s sister and also her lawyer, confirmed to EL DEBER that they are awaiting the forensic medical certificate to formalize the request to remove Eidy Roca from the judicial process.
“We hope that the request will be sent by Friday,” he said, although he also admitted that they expected a response yesterday.
Angélica Carolina Vargas Sánchez, from the Institute of Forensic Investigations (IDIF), made an assessment of Eidy Roca’s condition last Wednesday, and the results were not known until yesterday.
“With this evidence, they must order the separation in writing, or set a date and time for a hearing to consider this request,” Lady Roca explained.
According to her, by Wednesday, August 28, there should be a response – positive or negative – from Miguel Ángel Flores Orihuela, Second Anti-Corruption Sentencing Judge in charge of the case.
However, Lady Roca noted that in a previous hearing, this same magistrate questioned the fact that Eidy Roca’s defense was not in La Paz in person, while virtuality was accepted for the former minister.
“The lawyer is always supposed to be with his client,” he criticized the action.
He added that the prosecution may oppose or accept the family’s request, but that this should not in any way affect the final decision that the judge “considers fair.”
On Wednesday, Attorney General Juan Lanchipa said the Public Prosecutor’s Office is willing to review Roca’s legal situation once the formal request is submitted.
Through letters sent to the Attorney General of the State, Juan Lanchipa, and to the President of the Supreme Court of Justice, Marco Ernesto James Molina, the deputies: Gladys Chumacero, Pamela Alurralde, María Elena Ortega, Alexsandra Zenteno and Olivia Guachalla, expressed their deep concern for the delicate state of health of Roca. The same did Fesirmes, Professional University Women. We believe and from exile Guido Añez Moscoso.
