Breaking News: Pablo Muñoz Hoffman, Former FPMR Member, Freed in Bolivia Despite International Arrest Warrant
Just hours after the release of Pablo Muñoz Hoffman, a former member of the Manuel Rodríguez Patriotic Front (FPMR), who was arrested on Monday in La Paz, Bolivia, the Chilean Investigative Police (PDI) revealed the reasons behind his liberation.
According to the national head of International Cooperation at the PDI, Prefect Carolina Namor, Hoffman’s arrest triggered a series of coordination efforts and information exchanges with the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) in Bolivia. However, Namor confirmed that the decision to free Hoffman was made by Bolivian authorities.
"Throughout the day, we maintained fluid communication until around 6:00 PM today, when we received an official statement from Interpol Bolivia indicating that they do not recognize the red diffusion as a detention mechanism," Namor reported.
It’s essential to note that Hoffman has an active international arrest warrant and two detention orders for violating the Firearms Law, Kidnapping, and escape from the national territory.
Namor clarified that "Interpol Bolivia also informed us that Hoffman entered the country irregularly through an unauthorized crossing."
The prefect also mentioned that contact was made with the judge of the 34th Criminal Court in Santiago to inform him about Hoffman’s situation in La Paz and to initiate extradition procedures, as requested by Interpol Bolivia.
Moreover, Namor stated that Interpol Chile has issued a red notice, which was disseminated across various countries, and Bolivia was aware of this information.
She emphasized that "Bolivia informed us that, according to their legislation, they do not consider the red diffusion as a detention mechanism."
The PDI chief highlighted that they are now awaiting the decisions of the 34th Criminal Court and the Supreme Court regarding the ongoing judicial proceedings.
Namor also revealed that they have no information about Hoffman’s movements within Bolivia.
Hoffman was initially arrested by Interpol personnel in Bolivia and was supposed to be transferred to the Paso Quemado border crossing to be handed over to Chilean police. However, his lawyers filed a motion that halted his deportation to Chile, despite the active arrest warrant against him.
In response to the situation, the Chilean Interior Minister, Carolina Tohá, stated that "the extradition process must proceed," but clarified that "it is the courts, not the government, that should request his detention for the purpose of extradition."
Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story.
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