Ex-Ecuador president detained in COVID-19 corruption raid
Gonzalo Solano, Associated Press
Updated 3:55 pm CDT, Wednesday, June 3, 2020
QUITO, Ecuador (AP) — A former Ecuadorian president has been detained after authorities raided his home Wednesday and found a gun and medical supplies including masks as part of a wider investigation into corruption during the pandemic.
Prosecutors and police charged into the home of ex-President Abdalá Bucaram, 68, in Guayaquil, the coastal city that became one of the earliest cities in Latin America to see a sudden surge in COVID-19 infections.
Investigators said the raid was conducted in connection with an ongoing probe into suspected embezzlement at a large public hospital. Though no charges have been filed, Bucaram was detained after authorities found an unlicensed gun, in addition to some 5,000 masks and 2,000 coronavirus test kits.
“A lot of medical supplies were found,” chief prosecutor Diana Salazar said.
Bucaram was elected president of the small South American nation in 1996 and ousted by Congress less than six months later for “mental incapacity.” He was accused of corruption and nepotism during his brief time in office.
Throughout Latin America, multiple officials and business leaders have been charged or forced to resign amidst reports of fraudulent purchases of ventilators, masks and other equipment aimed at helping to confront the pandemic.
More:
https://www.chron.com/news/article/Ex-Ecuador-president-detained-in-COVID-19-15315026.php
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