Aquiles Alvarez refuses gallbladder surgery in prison

Imprisoned Guayaquil mayor Aquiles Alvarez refused gallbladder surgery on Wednesday after being taken by helicopter to a private clinic for tests, Ecuadorian Interior Minister John Reimberg said.

Alvarez, a critic of President Daniel Noboa, has been in prison since a February arrest over alleged money laundering. Reimberg said Alvarez “rejected the treatment and the gallbladder surgery.”

Julio Cesar Cueva, a lawyer for Alvarez, said “the decision had been made for the mayor to undergo surgery, but it will not be today.” Both Reimberg and Cueva said Alvarez had returned to El Encuentro prison in Santa Elena province.

Alvarez denies the allegations against him and says they are an attempt to disqualify him from seeking reelection next year. Prosecutors previously released pictures showing bags of money, computers and mobile phones after his arrest.

Alvarez was also fitted with an electronic ankle monitor in July last year while being investigated in a separate case over alleged fuel trafficking.