More developments in the Veracruz money case
Milenio: "The head of Finance of the government of Veracruz, Victor Benitez, presented his resignation after the retention of 25 million pesos--transported in suitcases to the airport in Toluca--was made known. Veracruz's government announced it had accepted the resignation of the official and in the coming hours will announce who will replace him. ... State spokeswoman Gina Dominguez acknowledged that this is an unusual situation, but said no crime had been committed." Spanish original
The MexicoBlog of the Americas Program, a fiscally sponsored program of the Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR), is written by Laura Carlsen. I monitor and analyze international press on Mexico, with a focus on security, immigration, human rights and social movements for peace and justice, from a feminist perspective. And sometimes I simply muse.
Showing posts with label Veracruz money. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Veracruz money. Show all posts
Jan 30, 2012
Mexico Politics: PAN official asks for investigation of possible links to the election in the transfer of 25 million pesos
The National Action Party (PAN), the party of President Calderón, chimes in on the Veracruz money case.
Milenio: "The secretary for Goverment Action of PAN (National Action Party), Juan Molinar asked for an investigation into possible links between the (presidential) election and the transfer of 25 million pesos from the government of Veracruz to the state of Mexico. The PAN spokesman said there must be a thorough and specific investigation regarding the resources of the Veracruz administration that were seized.
"When there are 25 million pesos in two suitcases in a capital that has a PRI government, coming from the capital of another PRI government, one has the right to think that maybe something should be investigated there," he said. However, he admitted that, so far, the National Action Party has no specific facts on which to make a formal complaint, and he requested that the audit unit of IFE (Independent Election Commission) make the appropriate investigation of the case." Spanish original
Milenio: "The secretary for Goverment Action of PAN (National Action Party), Juan Molinar asked for an investigation into possible links between the (presidential) election and the transfer of 25 million pesos from the government of Veracruz to the state of Mexico. The PAN spokesman said there must be a thorough and specific investigation regarding the resources of the Veracruz administration that were seized.
"When there are 25 million pesos in two suitcases in a capital that has a PRI government, coming from the capital of another PRI government, one has the right to think that maybe something should be investigated there," he said. However, he admitted that, so far, the National Action Party has no specific facts on which to make a formal complaint, and he requested that the audit unit of IFE (Independent Election Commission) make the appropriate investigation of the case." Spanish original
Mexico Politics: PRD calls for clarification of the money claimed by Veracruz officials
The plot thickens in the story of the 25 million pesos found in the suitcases of two Veracruz government employees at the airport in Mexico State. The employees were first arrested and then released when the Veracruz state government said the cash was to pay bills for three state festivals. In the heat of the presidential campaign--in which the PRI candidate and former Mexico State governor Enrique Peña Nieto is in the lead in the polls--the leftist party, PRD, smells a possible scandal and the blood that would go with it.
The leader of the Democratic Revolution Party (PRD) discredited the attempt to justify the destination of the money--discovered by the Attorney General´s Office at the airport in Toluca, Mexico State--as being "to pay creditors," and being legally managed public money .
"We have total confidence that it is a diversion of resources from the state government (of Veracruz)" in favor of the PRI's presidential candidate (Enrique Peña Nieto), or "Is it, perhaps, dirty money from drug trafficking?" he expounded.
Zambrano warned that the truth ought not to be left unclear, "let alone the audacity of the government of Veracruz", which is demanding that federal authorities return the money...." Spanish original
Mexico Politics: Veracruz PGR requests the return of seized 25 million pesos
Mexico has a large "informal economy," up to 40% of the total, which is composed of street vendors and small enterprizes that operate outside the formal structure. In the formal economy, where businesses are registered with the government, taxes are paid and, in return, government social benefits such as health care are provided to employees. In the informal, cash economy, these taxes are avoided. By far, this Veracruz transaction is the biggest "informal" transaction we have heard of.
CNN Mexico: "Two officials of the government of Veracruz who were carrying 25 million pesos in cash were arrested by Federal Police last Friday at the airport in Toluca, as confirmed by the Ministry of Finance of the state government. The federal Attorney General's Office (PGR) seized the cash, so on Monday the government of Veracruz reported that it is requesting the return of those funds.
According to the state government, the money was to be used to pay for "various events to be held in coming months," referring to the three busiest festivals in Veracruz already in process of being organized. This Tuesday the celebration of Candelaria Tlacotalpan begins, February 14 is the Veracruz Carnival and on March 17 is the Tajin Summit Conference. The state expects two and a half million tourists to attend the three festivals.
In the statement, the government said that the names of "collaborators" arrested are Said Zepeda and Miguel Morales, who were commissioned to carry the millions in cash. Both have been released. The 25 million "was sent to Mexico City" for hiring artists, assembly of scenery and production of promotional materials, said the finance secretary of the government of Veracruz, Tomas Ruiz Gonzalez. Of the total amount, two million would go to La Candelaria, 15 million for Carnival and eight million for the Tajin Summit.
In the statement the state authorities do not explain why these resources were sent in cash and not through a bank transaction. Tomas Ruiz explained that the transaction was justified according to the Financial Code of the State of Veracruz. However, he said the state government "will review the legal procedures to avoid such situations." "No crime was committed by the transportation of cash amounts, whose origin and destination are fully accredited by the appropriate authority," says the official announcement." Spanish original
CNN Mexico: "Two officials of the government of Veracruz who were carrying 25 million pesos in cash were arrested by Federal Police last Friday at the airport in Toluca, as confirmed by the Ministry of Finance of the state government. The federal Attorney General's Office (PGR) seized the cash, so on Monday the government of Veracruz reported that it is requesting the return of those funds.
According to the state government, the money was to be used to pay for "various events to be held in coming months," referring to the three busiest festivals in Veracruz already in process of being organized. This Tuesday the celebration of Candelaria Tlacotalpan begins, February 14 is the Veracruz Carnival and on March 17 is the Tajin Summit Conference. The state expects two and a half million tourists to attend the three festivals.
In the statement, the government said that the names of "collaborators" arrested are Said Zepeda and Miguel Morales, who were commissioned to carry the millions in cash. Both have been released. The 25 million "was sent to Mexico City" for hiring artists, assembly of scenery and production of promotional materials, said the finance secretary of the government of Veracruz, Tomas Ruiz Gonzalez. Of the total amount, two million would go to La Candelaria, 15 million for Carnival and eight million for the Tajin Summit.
In the statement the state authorities do not explain why these resources were sent in cash and not through a bank transaction. Tomas Ruiz explained that the transaction was justified according to the Financial Code of the State of Veracruz. However, he said the state government "will review the legal procedures to avoid such situations." "No crime was committed by the transportation of cash amounts, whose origin and destination are fully accredited by the appropriate authority," says the official announcement." Spanish original
Mexico Politics: Veracruz government employee caught at airport carrying 25 million pesos in cash
See followup article reporting that the Veracruz state government says this was part of a legitimate transaction to pay for services at three festivals in Veracruz and it wants the cash back. The arrested men have been released.
Milenio: "The federal Attorney General's Office (PGR) is investigating the origin of 25 million pesos (about $1,800,000 dollars) that were found in the suitcase of a Veracruz government employee at the airport in Toluca, Mexico State on Jan. 27. Authorities reported that Miguel Morales Robles was handed over to federal authorities to determine the source of the cash and the probable commission of any crime. Morales Robles arrived at the Toluca airport from Jalapa, Veracruz, (the state capital) and could not explain the origin or destination of the money." Spanish original
Mexico has a large "informal economy," up to 40% of the total, which is composed of street vendors and small enterprizes that operate outside the formal structure. In the formal economy, where businesses are registered with the government, taxes are paid and, in return, government social benefits such as health care are provided to employees. In the informal, cash economy, these taxes are avoided. By far, this Veracruz transaction is the biggest "informal" transaction we have heard of.
Milenio: "The federal Attorney General's Office (PGR) is investigating the origin of 25 million pesos (about $1,800,000 dollars) that were found in the suitcase of a Veracruz government employee at the airport in Toluca, Mexico State on Jan. 27. Authorities reported that Miguel Morales Robles was handed over to federal authorities to determine the source of the cash and the probable commission of any crime. Morales Robles arrived at the Toluca airport from Jalapa, Veracruz, (the state capital) and could not explain the origin or destination of the money." Spanish original
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