Former Bolivian President Luis Arce Catacora entered the San Pedro prison on Friday (December 12) after a judge ordered him held in pre-trial detention for five months as part of an investigation into alleged embezzlement.

Arce, who left office last month, will be held in prison in the capital La Paz and will likely be tried for alleged economic misconduct related to the diversion of funds for projects in Indigenous communities while serving as economy minister under ex-leader Evo Morales. A hearing has been scheduled for May 12, 2026.

The investigation into Arce focuses on alleged irregular disbursements from a fund, known as the Indigenous Fund, intended to finance projects for Indigenous communities. Local media, citing investigators, reported earlier this week that evidence presented in the case links Arce to the misappropriation of public funds.

Arce was detained by police on Wednesday (December 10) and has denied any wrongdoing.

The judge said that, during his pre-trial detention, Arce will be held separately from those serving their sentences in the La Paz prison, and will be able to request to leave for health reasons when necessary.

His detention comes less than two months after centrist candidate Rodrigo Paz won the October runoff election, ending nearly two decades of dominance by the leftist MAS party that Arce represented. Paz has pledged to tackle corruption within state institutions.

Arce served as president of the South American nation from 2020 to 2025, and was previously economy minister between January and November 2019.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

LA PAZ, BOLIVIA (DECEMBER 12, 2025) (REUTERS - Access all) (NIGHT SHOTS)

1. VEHICLE TRANSPORTING FORMER PRESIDENT LUIS ARCE CATACORA

2. VARIOUS OF FORMER BOLIVIAN PRESIDENT LUIS ARCE CATACORA ENTERING SAN PEDRO PRISON

3. MEDIA, PROTESTERS GATHERING OUTSIDE SAN PEDRO PRISON

4. INTERIOR OF SAN PEDRO PRISON WITH INMATES SEEN FROM HOLE

5. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) FORMER MINISTER OF THE BOLIVIAN PRESIDENCY UNDER ARCE, MARIANELA PRADA, SAYING:

"This is political persecution, the decision was political, and they have gone beyond what was requested for him for security reasons. It is illegal to bring him here to San Pedro prison, where it is well known that his life is at risk."

6. ARCE SUPPORTERS CHANTING SLOGANS IN SUPPORT OF FORMER PRESIDENT

7. SAN PEDRO PRISON BUILDING

8. SUPPORTER OF ARCE BEING HIT BY CRITICS OF ARCE / SUPPORTER OF ARCE RUNNING AWAY

9. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) RESIDENT, EFRAIN CARI, SAYING:

"This is not revenge, it's justice. Everything done in this life must be paid for. Those shouting and supporting Luis Arce Catacora are people who worked with him, who also benefited and stole, and now they shout supporting him. But I tell you that all of these people from this government that has ended will fall. The Catacoras, or better said 'ratacoras' (rats), will go to prison. This is just beginning and all these corrupt people will fall. The people demand justice."

10. VARIOUS OF SUPPORTERS OF NEW GOVERNMENT CHANTING IN SUPPORT OF ARCE'S IMPRISONMENT