Judge Orders Former President Detained

Supreme Court chief Carlos Solorzano ordered former President Abdala Bucaram taken into custody as part of an investigation into allegations of embezzlement, nepotism and influence peddling. In March, the Supreme Court charged Bucaram and four aides in the alleged mishandling of more than $80 million from the government’s reserve fund. Bucaram fled to Panama after he was ousted from power in February, when the National Chamber of Representatives voted to remove him for “mental incapacity.” The aides also fled. Although the detention order cannot be carried out while Bucaram is out of the country, it indicates that the judge investigating his case believes that there is evidence of his guilt.