A Bolivian court has mandated the pretrial detention of Johnny Fernández, the mayor of Santa Cruz de la Sierra, amid an ongoing corruption probe focused on alleged irregularities in public infrastructure initiatives.
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.
The judicial decision followed a hearing in which prosecutors argued that preventive detention was necessary while the investigation continues. Authorities are examining the management of public resources allocated to infrastructure projects and seeking to establish whether criminal offenses were committed during the execution 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 is expected to continue in the coming months as prosecutors gather additional evidence and the courts determine the legal responsibilities of those 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
