Story By: Jonathan Macias, Sub Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Central European News
The female president of the tribunal in charge of overseeing Bolivia’s elections has been arrested whilst reportedly dressing as a man to escape from the police.
Maria Eugenia Choque Quispe, the President of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) in Bolivia was arrested in the Bolivian capital of La Paz, in the province of Pedro Domingo Murillo in western Bolivia, after she quit her role Sunday following alleged irregularities in recent elections.
According to local media, the former politician was arrested in a police operation launched by the Department of Criminal Analysis and Intelligence (DACI).
She is accused of being responsible for irregularities in the last elections in Bolivia on 20th of October in which Evo Morales was re-elected as president.
Reports said that Choque Quispe was found dressed as a man and preparing to leave the city.
The head of the local police Yuri Calderon told local media: “This lady was dressed as a man, this suggests that she was about to evade her responsibilities and distract the attention of the personnel in charge of her search and apprehension.”
Calderon said that she was arrested while she was “preparing to leave the city of la Paz and disguised as a man to deceive police agents”.
The former President of the TSE was arrested together with Antonio Costas the former Vice-President of the TSE who was also preparing to escape the city, according to local media.
Choque Quispe quit last Sunday after the Organisation of American States (OAS) reported alleged irregularities in the elections in Bolivia. Evo Morales has also stepped down from the presidency after commander-in-chief of the Bolivian armed forces, Williams Kaliman, called for him to leave his post.
Choque Quispe and Calderon stood in front of the General Attorney of La Paz William Alave at a press conference to announce their arrests.
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