Bolivia's ex-president Arce arrested in graft probe

LA PAZ, Dec. 10 (Xinhua) -- Bolivia's former President Luis Arce was arrested Wednesday in La Paz as part of a corruption investigation linked to an indigenous development fund, according to former Minister of the Presidency Maria Nela Prada.

Prada publicly denounced Arce's arrest by the Prosecutor's Office as "a kidnapping," saying the former president was not notified, no family members were present, and his transfer was carried out without official notification.

The investigation alleges that while Arce was at the Ministry of Economy, he authorized state disbursements to private accounts, including that of former congresswoman Lidia Patty, currently being held in pretrial detention at a women's prison in La Paz.

Judicial authorities have yet to report any formal charges or the next procedural steps.

According to local media, Arce was brought to the Special Force to Fight Crime headquarters around 3 p.m. local time (1900 GMT) in a white van and subsequently transferred to the anti-corruption unit to give a statement. ■