33 Ex-Mayors Accused of Corruption in Mexico

[Elmore Furth]

Source: Associated Press

Published: January 28, 2011
Filed at 10:23 p.m. EST

VERACRUZ, Mexico (AP) — More than 30 former mayors in the Mexican Gulf coast state of Veracruz have been ordered arrested on suspicion of corruption.

Veracruz Deputy Attorney General Reynaldo Escobar says they are among 115 ex-municipal employees in the state charged with corruption between 2004 and 2008. He says the total amount suspected embezzled is 67 million pesos ($5.5 million).

The first to be arrested Friday was Leonardo Mendoza, former mayor of the town of Benito Juarez.

Escobar says Mendoza and his former treasurer are suspected of embezzling nearly 4 million pesos from federal and state resources meant for public works. He says prosecutors have evidence of expenditures that were not accounted for and overpaying in some projects.



Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2011/01/28/world/americas/AP-LT-Mexico-Corruption.html?_r=1&ref=news