Marcela Alejandra Porco v. Bolivia (Admissibility Decision) IACHR (04 March 2008) Report No. 8/08

Marcela Alejandre Porco, an Argentine national, was detained at an airport in Bolivia and charged with drug trafficking upon the discovery of cocaine in her suitcase.  She indicated to authorities that she was a schizophrenic requiring medication and treatment upon arrest.  She was held in deplorable detention conditions with little access to medical treatment.  Ms. Alejandre Proco further stated the domestic laws governing her arrest and trial regime (Law 1008) engaged numerous violations of rights, including fair trial standards and that her detention lasted over a year because of the law’s failure to permit release without a second instance review.  The Commission confirmed the case was admissible for consideration.