Mexico fugitive alleges official corruption

[Judi Lynn]

Source: L.A. Times

Mexico fugitive alleges official corruption
A March raid at posh home netted $207 million, supposedly linked to a drug ring. But the homeowner tells a different tale.
By Héctor Tobar and Carlos Martínez, Times Staff Writers
July 17, 2007

MEXICO CITY — The strange saga of Zhenli Ye Gon and the $207 million in cash discovered during a March raid of his mansion here shows no signs of ending soon.

First, there is the matter of the money itself, which officials called the largest drug-cash seizure in history. The stacks of U.S. currency filled several steel cabinets and suitcases in Ye Gon's home in the fashionable Lomas de Chapultepec district. It has since been shipped by Mexican authorities to New York to be counted.

Ye Gon's wife and six others were arrested during the raid. But Ye Gon remains a fugitive.
(snip)

But on Monday, a Mexican newspaper published excerpts from the latest missive from the Chinese Mexican entrepreneur, who charged from hiding that he was holding the money for corrupt Mexican officials and members of President Felipe Calderon's National Action Party.



Read more: http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/asection/la-fg-mexcash17jul17,1,3596790.story?coll=la-news-a_section

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Mexico president dismisses accusations
By E. EDUARDO CASTILLO Associated Press Writer
Article Launched: 07/16/2007 05:51:28 PM PDT


MEXICO CITY—President Felipe Calderon on Monday dismissed as "pure fiction" the allegations by a Chinese-Mexican businessman that Mexico's ruling party forced him to hide tens of millions of dollars in campaign cash at his home.

In his first public statements about the accusations by Zhenli Ye Gon, Calderon said they "are not only false, they are ridiculous."

Ye Gon claimed this month that he was threatened with death by the ruling party unless he stored at least $150 million in his Mexico City mansion. It was the first major accusation that Calderon's administration has links to Mexico's drug underworld.
(snip)

Ye Gon claimed in a letter from his lawyers to the Mexican government that "a substantial part of these cash deposits" consisted of National Action Party campaign funds delivered to his home by Calderon campaign officials.

More:
http://www.mercurynews.com/nationworld/ci_6389192?nclick_check=1

[melody]

1. NO! Corrupt North American officials? Say it isn't so!

:sarcasm: