Ecuador charges ex-minister over assassination case
AgenciesQuitoProsecutors in Ecuador have charged a former interior minister and six others on suspicion of being involved in the assassination of a presidential candidate in 2023.J...
Prosecutors in Ecuador have brought charges against former interior minister José Serrano and six others in connection with the assassination of presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio in 2023. The murder occurred at a campaign event in the capital, Quito, just days before the election. José Serrano and cartel leader Wilmer “Pipo” Chavarria are implicated in the killing.
Five individuals linked to the criminal gang were sentenced to prison for the hit in 2024, while Pipo was arrested in Spain last year after attempting to fake his own death.
Fernando Villavicencio, a journalist-turned-legislator, was known for his anti-corruption stance and was one of few candidates to suggest connections between organized crime and government officials. Despite receiving numerous death threats, he continued to make public appearances at campaign events. Daniel Noboa, who won the election and became Ecuador’s president, has adopted a firm military stance against combating crime gangs.
The five individuals convicted for Villavicencio’s murder in 2024 are alleged to have organized the hit, with the actual gunman being killed at the scene.
Written by urgent.news from Qatar Tribune's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.
