A court in Bolivia has ordered the preventive detention of Johnny Fernández, the mayor of Santa Cruz de la Sierra, as part of an ongoing corruption investigation involving alleged irregularities in public infrastructure projects.
Prosecutors accuse the mayor of overseeing a scheme related to the payment for road paving works that were allegedly never completed in several peripheral neighborhoods of the country’s largest economic hub. The investigation focuses on contracts for avenue improvements that authorities believe were either left unfinished or did not match the work that had been funded.
Prosecutors contended during the hearing that holding the individuals in preventive custody was essential as the inquiry moves forward, and the judicial decision reflected that stance. Investigators are reviewing how public funds assigned to infrastructure initiatives were handled and aim to determine whether any criminal acts occurred throughout the implementation of the contracts.
Fernández has dismissed the claims leveled against him, and his legal team argues that the charges are unfounded. The case has captured widespread public interest in Bolivia, where ongoing concerns about openness in public administration continue to surface.
The investigation will likely move forward over the next few months as prosecutors compile further evidence and the courts assess the legal accountability of everyone involved.
Source: El País along with https://elpais.com/america/2026-02-28/enviado-a-prision-por-corrupcion-el-acalde-de-la-capital-economica-de-bolivia.html
