Mexico ex-governor arrested in Panama News
Mexico ex-governor arrested in Panama

Fugitive ex-governor of Quintana Roo, Mexico, Roberto Borge, was arrested on Monday in Panama. Borge, a member of President Enrique Peña Nieto’s ruling Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), was taken into custody on charges of corruption. He was wanted [AP report] in connection with the sale of hundreds of millions of dollars worth of state properties. Borge denies all charges. The ex-governor was apprehended with the aid [Reuters report] of Interpol [official website] as he was preparing to board a flight to Paris. Mexico is asking Panamanian prosecutors for his extradition. Borge is the third [BBC report] fugitive former governor to be arrested this year after several of those accused of corruption went on the run.

Mexico has been plagued with corruption scandals in the past year further complicating the country’s drug crisis. Attorney General Edgar Veytia of the state of Nayarit, Mexico, was arrested [JURIST report] on charges of international narcotics trafficking conspiracy, according to court documents filed by federal officials in March. In January UN Special Rapporteur Michel Forst delivered [JURIST report] a preliminary report recommending to Mexico authorities improvements concerning the protection of human rights defenders after reports [JURIST report] of disappearances in Mexico began to surface. In September the Mexican Supreme Court overturned [JURIST report] two state anti-corruption laws that would have allowed departing governors to choose prosecutors in charge of investigating corruption allegations against them. In June the Mexican Congress passed several anti-corruption bills [JURIST report] that would increase the severity of penalties for corruption charges.