The Guayaquil-born Otto Sonnenholzner Sper took office on Tuesday as Vice-president of Ecuador, after being chosen by the National Assembly from a shortlist put forward by President Lenin Moreno.
The release of former Argentine Vicepresident Amado Boudou was ordered Tuesday by a three-member court on condition that he posts bail in the amount of one million pesos (around US$ 26,500) and wears a GPS tracking device around his ankle.
The brother and father of Argentina's President Mauricio Macri are to testify in court this week over their alleged involvement in a huge kickbacks scandal known as the corruption notebooks case, reports said on Monday.
Ecuador's Vice President Maria Vicuna announced her resignation on Tuesday, one day after President Lenin Moreno relieved her of duties amid an investigation into payments she received as a legislator years ago.
Brazil's Supreme Court said on Tuesday it had authorized a federal investigation into allegations that the incoming chief of staff for far-right President-elect Jair Bolsonaro had taken illegal campaign donations.
Brazil’s Supreme Court delayed indefinitely a decision on whether former president Lula da Silva should be freed from prison, where he is serving a 12-term for corruption. One of the five justices called for the postponement to give more time to study the case after two of his colleagues decided against a release.
Uruguay’s President, Tabaré Vázquez announced Monday along with Uruguayan Foreign Minister Rodolfo Nin Novoa that Peruvian former president Alan García will not receive political asylum. The rejection of the request is due to the fact that in Peru “the three powers of the State operate” freely, said Vázquez.
A court in the United States has sentenced the former head of Venezuela's treasury, Alejandro Andrade, to 10 years in prison for money laundering. Andrade, 54, had pleaded guilty to taking US$ 1bn in bribes in exchange for offering access to preferential foreign currency exchange rates.
The Brazilian corruption probe known as Operation Carwash (Lava Jato) has placed three out of five living former presidents of Brazil as defendants. Michel Temer, the current president, and José Sarney so far have been only arraigned.
Brazil's jailed ex-president Lula da Silva's legal troubles mounted on Monday as he was accused by the Sao Paulo public prosecutor's office of money laundering in his dealings with Equatorial Guinea.