Aníbal Aguilar was sentenced to two years in prison in a summary trial driven by the Public Ministry. Luis Arce's government considers him the mastermind of the false coup d'état of June 26, 2024.
The sentence is for terrorism and armed uprising in the degree of complicity. However, because the penalty is minor, he can opt for a conditional suspension. The Prosecutor's Office did not clarify whether he remains imprisoned in San Pedro or if he has already been released.
Aguilar was arrested without a warrant a day after the military uprising led by General Juan José Zúñiga. He was 71 years old, suffered from cancer, and was taken from his home by more than twenty police officers in front of his family.
According to his son, he spent almost a day incommunicado in unsanitary cells. They claim he was pressured to accept the summary procedure. Initially, his defense rejected this judicial outcome.
Aguilar's family keeps that there is no evidence linking him to a conspiracy. Only a photograph of him walking near the Casa Grande del Pueblo was presented.
Minister Edmundo Novillo publicly accused him of being the "strategist" of the uprising. He was also presented to the press handcuffed, without a lawyer, and without his consent. This violates due process norms.
Aguilar worked as a consultant in the Ministry of Defense drafting speeches and evaluating institutional strategies. He was also an evangelical pastor and university professor.
A scapegoat of masismo
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The evangelical church in Bolivia and Latin America called for his immediate release. They consider that his health doesn't allow him to remain in prison. His son claims he was used as a "scapegoat" to justify a political setup.
Human rights organizations like AJDH have documented multiple irregularities. His house arrest was revoked without new evidence or solid arguments.
He was accused without evidence of meetings or communications with the military. Prosecutor Mejillones never explained how that conclusion was reached. The defense denounced private meetings between judges and executive officials.
AJDH warns that Aguilar's case responds to a political control strategy. His imprisonment aimed to reinforce the government's narrative about an alleged coup.
The improvisation of General Zúñiga and the rapid official reaction fuel suspicions. Several analysts believe that it was a manipulated action to gain legitimacy. Even sectors of MAS questioned the official version.
Zúñiga himself was accused and is imprisoned, but his motivation remains unclear. Some also consider him a sacrificed piece of the political chessboard.
So far, at least four people have been sentenced in summary trials for this case. There are 22 more with formal charges, including Zúñiga. Three military personnel also requested the summary procedure and a three-year sentence.
The crimes include armed uprising and resolutions contrary to the Constitution. The Prosecutor's Office withdrew the charges of magnicide due to lack of evidence.
