The Minister for Health in Bolivia has been sacked and arrested after he bought 170 ventilators to fight COVID-19 at over-inflated prices, the national news agency, ABI reported.
Government spokeswoman Isabel Fernandez said the minister, Marcelo Navas was removed from office to prevent him from interfering with the investigation.
Navas was replaced by his deputy Eidy Roca.
He and two other people have been arrested, police chief Ivan Rojas said, adding that investigators would search Navas’ office.
The ventilators, imported from Spain, were reportedly vastly overpriced and found to be unsuitable for intensive care units.
The South American country has confirmed about 4,500 COVID-19 infections and around 190 deaths.
