A Bolivian court has decided to place former President Luis Arce in pretrial detention for five months until a corruption investigation, in which he is accused, begins.

Axar.az reports that the Prosecutor General’s Office requested Arce be held in custody until the court proceedings due to concerns he might flee or interfere with the investigation.

The former head of state is accused of failing to fulfill his official duties and causing economic damage to the state.

Arce’s lawyers requested that he remain free because of his cancer illness and the need to care for his elderly mother.

Arce was detained on December 10. The alleged corruption took place during the presidency of Evo Morales (2006–2019), when Arce served as Minister of Economy. The former president denies the accusations and considers his detention politically motivated.

Arce served as Bolivia’s president from November 8, 2020, to November 8, 2025.