Former mayor and state representative Paul “A” and/or P.A.O. was formally charged by a Federal District Court judge for the alleged embezzlement of more than 15 million pesos earmarked for pothole repair.
The Movimiento Ciudadano (MC) member remains free despite being under investigation in at least two other cases, but these are under state jurisdiction.
This formal charge was issued in August of this year, after the defense of the former state leader of Movimiento Ciudadano attempted to have the case transferred to federal court, arguing “political persecution” and the alleged “alignment” of judges of the Superior Court of Justice of the State of Campeche (TSJEC) with the current administration.
As they say, everything backfired on the former mayor of Campeche, Paúl “A”, who now faces charges of illicit exercise of public service under the Federal Penal Code (CPF). These charges, along with others for which he was previously prosecuted in state court, include embezzlement.
Since 2023, Paúl “A” has been under investigation by the Campeche State Supreme Court (TSJEC) for embezzlement, following a case brought by the Specialized Prosecutor’s Office for Combating Corruption (FECCECAM).
According to the complaint filed by oversight authorities, during his tenure as acting mayor of Campeche, 15,487,000 pesos earmarked for paving and pothole repair in the town of Lerma, Campeche, were misappropriated.
Faced with the defense’s argument that the resources were “federal” and seeking to remove the case from the “local jurisdiction,” the presiding judge agreed to declare herself incompetent and transfer the case file to the District Court on December 19 of that same year.
Thus began the federal legal process, in which the defense hoped to obtain a dismissal order. However, in August of this year, the federal judge found sufficient evidence to order the defendant to stand trial, and the case is currently in the Supplementary Investigation Phase.
Source: campechehoy
