AFPSoldiers patrol the military hospital in Guayaquil
NOS Nieuws•vandaag, 03:21
Ecuador’s former vice president Jorge Glas has been transferred from prison to hospital, days after his controversial arrest. On Friday, he was arrested by police at the Mexican embassy in Ecuador, where he had been staying since December. The raid led to outraged reactions internationally.
The prison authority SNAI said Glas was taken to the military hospital in Guayaquil around noon. Glass is in stable condition, the prison authority said.
He had become unwell after refusing to eat food given to him by the prison for the past 24 hours, a statement from SNAI said. According to Ecuadorian media, Glas may have overdosed on medication. He was reportedly found unconscious in his cell.
A few hours earlier, his lawyers had sounded the alarm because they could not reach him. Lawyer Sonia Vera says that Glas was thrown to the ground and punched several times during the police raid. She has not yet been allowed to visit her client and believes he is in danger.
AFP/Ecuador policeJorge Glas at his arrest last Friday
Other Latin American countries reacted with outrage this weekend to Glas’ arrest. They condemn the raid, calling it a “blatant violation of international law.” In response, Mexico severed diplomatic ties with Ecuador.
Under international law, diplomats and persons representing their countries abroad have immunity. The host country may not prosecute or arrest persons present in the embassy.
Current President Noboa defends the raid on the Mexican embassy and points out that Glas still has to serve a sentence for corruption. Glas has been convicted of this twice and has already served a sentence. On his second arrest warrant, he sought asylum in Mexico, which he was granted. He has always called his conviction politically motivated.
2024-04-09 01:21:54
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