Current:Home > NewsMystery surrounds death of bankrupt bank trustee who fell from 15th floor of building in Bolivia -FutureFinance
Mystery surrounds death of bankrupt bank trustee who fell from 15th floor of building in Bolivia
View
Date:2025-04-16 00:10:47
A prosecutor in Bolivia launched an investigation Monday into the mysterious death of the trustee of a bankrupt bank who fell from the 15th floor of a building and his family disputed claims he took his own life.
Several of Bolivia's top leaders have demanded an impartial investigation into the death of Carlos Alberto Colodro, 63, who was appointed as trustee of Fassil Bank last month after the government took control of it amid its insolvency and a run on deposits.
Colodro, who was tasked with liquidating the bank, was found dead on Saturday, apparently from a fall from a building in the eastern city of Santa Cruz.
Although officials said the death initially looked like a suicide, many immediately raised questions because Colodro's job as the liquidator of the bank had apparently touched powerful interests. Fassil was the country's fourth largest in terms of deposits.
"There are mentions of a fall and various injuries that could have led to the person's fall," Roger Mariaca, a prosecutor in Santa Cruz, said Monday as he announced that the fall was initially being investigated as "homicide-suicide." The charge refers to an article in Bolivia's penal code relating to the crime of pushing someone to commit suicide.
The lawyer for Colodro's family, Jorge Valda, said there were suspicious elements including "multiple bruises and injuries all over his body" that appeared to have taken place before the fall and "the fact that he was missing an eyeball and a testicle."
The family also raised questions about a supposed suicide note that Colodro wrote, saying it wasn't his handwriting. Authorities said the supposed letter was still under analysis.
Asked about the case, Erick Holguín, commander of the Santa Cruz police department, said Valda had not participated in the ongoing probes so he "is not a suitable person to provide any opinions."
Officials insisted all possibilities are currently being investigated as police say they've taken testimony from several people.
"We cannot rule out anything, all hypotheses are valid," Government Minister Eduardo del Castillo said.
After the government took control of the bank, allegations emerged of supposed million-dollar loans to insolvent individuals and alleged financial connections with powerful real estate groups in Santa Cruz.
Four former executives of Fassil are under investigation and have been remanded in custody.
"You know they were revealing very serious information," said Jerges Mercado, head of Bolivia's lower house of Congress. "Who was interested in silencing the trustee?"
Mercado was one of several officials from differing political leanings who called for an investigation.
"We are deeply saddened by his passing, and we demand a prompt investigation to clarify the causes of this incident," President Luis Arce wrote on social media.
Former President Evo Morales, Arce's predecessor who leads the ruling Movement Toward Socialism party, also called for an "independent and transparent investigation," saying that the "relationship between the death of the trustee and the presumed dealings and money laundering must be cleared up."
Former President Carlos Mesa (2003-2005) also said in a tweet that Colodro's death "generates lots of doubts … that must be cleared up."
La trágica muerte del Sr. Carlos Colodro, en circunstancias sospechosas, cuando investigaba lo ocurrido en el Banco Fassil, genera muchas dudas y advertencias que deben ser aclaradas seria e imparcialmente, por sus implicaciones sobre la seguridad del Estado y de la ciudadanía.
— Carlos D. Mesa Gisbert (@carlosdmesag) May 29, 2023
- In:
- Death
- Bolivia
veryGood! (434)
Related
- Warm inflation data keep S&P 500, Dow, Nasdaq under wraps before Fed meeting next week
- Defending Wimbledon women's champion Marketa Vondrousova ousted in first round
- Eva Amurri, daughter of Susan Sarandon, blasts online criticism of her wedding dress
- Why Taylor Swift Isn’t Throwing Her Iconic Fourth of July Party in Rhode Island This Year
- Meet the volunteers risking their lives to deliver Christmas gifts to children in Haiti
- Usher and Janet Jackson headline 30th Essence Festival of Culture
- Some Mississippi legislative districts dilute Black voting power and must be redrawn, judges say
- July 4th gas prices expected to hit lowest level in 3 years
- US wholesale inflation accelerated in November in sign that some price pressures remain elevated
- Top White House aide urges staff to tune out ‘noise’ and focus on governing during debate fallout
Ranking
- Average rate on 30
- Arkansas ends fiscal year with $698 million surplus, finance office says
- Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese strengthen players' union seeking larger piece of financial pie
- 'Beetlejuice Beetlejuice' to open Venice Film Festival
- Brianna LaPaglia Reveals The Meaning Behind Her "Chickenfry" Nickname
- Bronny James says he can handle ‘amplified’ pressure of playing for Lakers with his famous father
- I wasn't allowed a smartphone until I was 16. I can't thank my parents enough.
- Miki Sudo, a nine-time champ, will defend Mustard Belt at Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest
Recommendation
DoorDash steps up driver ID checks after traffic safety complaints
Travis Kelce Shares Golden Rule for Joining Taylor Swift on Stage at Eras Tour
Pope Francis formally approves canonization of first-ever millennial saint, teen Carlo Acutis
RV explosion rocks Massachusetts neighborhood, leaving 3 with serious burn injuries
Former longtime South Carolina congressman John Spratt dies at 82
Defending Wimbledon women's champion Marketa Vondrousova ousted in first round
Young Thug's RICO trial on hold indefinitely after judge's alleged 'improper' meeting
Mom says life of paralyzed Fourth of July parade shooting victim is ‘shattered’ 2 years later