Politics
Lozoya’s leaks and Pío’s problems
Emilio Lozoya, former Director General of Pemex, was extradited from Spain last July to face corruption charges in Mexico. This was an apparent victory for AMLO in his quest to curb corruption but the real strategy was to use Lozoya to catch bigger fish. However, as a renowned criminal lawyer in Mexico explains, “We all know that Lozoya & Co are corrupt but there is nothing to prove it and Lozoya knows that.”
A source at the Prosecutors Office confirmed, “The case itself is weak, everything we have so far is useful for a political scandal but not enough to send someone to jail. Even so, the investigations continue, and the hope is that … more elements of conviction can be integrated.” The criminal lawyer continued, “The Attorney General had doubts about this strategy from the beginning, but AMLO is stubborn, so the Prosecutor’s Office is doing the unthinkable and trying to build a viable case without much substance.”
“The Prosecutor's Office is working very hard to sustain the [Lozoya] case, but there is not much to prosecute.”
Senior official at the Prosecutor's Office in Mexico.
On 20 August, Lozoya’s 63-page declaration to the Prosecutors Office, was leaked to the public. In it, Lozoya accused 19 others of wrongdoing including former presidents Peña Nieto (apparently living in Spain) and Carlos Salinas de Gotari, (currently living in London, with a very low profile).
Despite the high-profile name dropping in Lozoya’s declaration, most of the information ‘leaked’ was already well documented by investigative journalists. Additionally, some other ‘facts’ don’t seem to match with actual timings. The lawyer told us, “What you have to understand is the information that Lozoya is providing right now is useless. He did not participate in the Energy Reform so he couldn't provide valuable information. I’m sure he could say a lot about Odebrecht, but I doubt he will.”
At the same time as Lozoya’s declaration was revealed, a journalist, Carlos Loret, leaked two compromising videos. These videos showed AMLO’s brother, Pío López Obrador, receiving piles of cash from David León (government official and former representative of Chiapas). The cash was apparently to support AMLO’s political party and presidential campaign.
“The Lozoya card used by AMLO is more of a media hit for electoral gains than a fight against corruption.”
Renowned criminal lawyer in Mexico.
A source at the Prosecutors Office told us, “We know that the PRI passed the video of Pío López Obrador to Loret to send a message to AMLO. The rumour is that whoever leaked the video is close to Salinas de Gotari. We’ll see what else Lozoya spits out. Right now, it’s all about buying time. The video has delayed everything.”
Corruption continues to run rife in Mexico and as authorities start to take it more seriously, there are many former ‘untouchables’ who should be worried. Perhaps one of them now works for your business? If you’re worried, get in touch.
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