Background on Silvano Aureoles Conejo
Silvano Aureoles Conejo served as the governor of Michoacán, a state in western Mexico. His tenure was marked by controversy and allegations of corruption, leading to his current legal predicament.
Charges Against Silvano Aureoles
The Fiscalía General de la República (FGR), Mexico’s national public prosecutor’s office, sought to impute Aureoles with the following charges:
- Association for criminal purposes
- Operations with illicit proceeds
- Misappropriation (peculado)
These charges are related to the alleged misuse of over 3,000 million pesos intended for the construction of state police quarters.
Aureoles’ Absence and Legal Status
On Tuesday, Aureoles failed to appear for his initial hearing. His lawyer, Argelio Echegaray, attended the Reclusorio Oriente and claimed ignorance regarding Aureoles’ absence. Since March, Aureoles has been declared a fugitive of justice. However, he had recently obtained a suspension that could have allowed him to face the process under house arrest if found guilty.
Fiscal specialist Julio Cobos from the FGR emphasized that the arrest warrant against Aureoles remains “100% active.” The Policía Federal Ministerial is working on executing the warrant. Cobos stated, “It’s only a matter of time before he is apprehended.”
Legal Precedents and Other Cases
Aureoles’ amparo (a legal protection in Mexico) was denied by the authorities, meaning he could not avoid attending the hearing. Cobos clarified that Aureoles’ absence maintains the validity of the arrest warrant, as the amparo did not prevent his appearance before the ministerial or judicial authorities.
Cobos also mentioned that there are still arrest warrants pending for other individuals involved in the case, including Juan Bernardo Corona Martínez and Israel Patrón. Meanwhile, other co-conspirators remain in custody without any changes to their detention status.
Next Steps in the Legal Process
The initial hearing, which began at 10 a.m., aimed to formalize the accusations surrounding the alleged misappropriation of funds. With Aureoles’ failure to appear, it will now be up to the judicial authorities to determine his and other ex-officials’ legal status following their noncompliance with the obligation to appear before the judge.
Key Questions and Answers
- What are the charges against Silvano Aureoles? The Fiscalía General de la República (FGR) sought to impute Aureoles with association for criminal purposes, operations with illicit proceeds, and misappropriation (peculado) related to the alleged misuse of over 3,000 million pesos intended for state police quarters.
- Why is Silvano Aureoles not attending his initial hearing? Aureoles failed to appear for his initial hearing. His lawyer, Argelio Echegaray, attended and claimed ignorance regarding Aureoles’ absence. Aureoles has been declared a fugitive of justice since March, though he had recently obtained a suspension that could have allowed him to face the process under house arrest if found guilty.
- What is the status of the arrest warrant against Aureoles? The fiscal specialist Julio Cobos from the FGR confirmed that the arrest warrant against Aureoles remains “100% active.” The Policía Federal Ministerial is working on executing the warrant.
- Are there other cases or individuals involved? Besides Aureoles, there are still arrest warrants pending for other individuals involved in the case, including Juan Bernardo Corona Martínez and Israel Patrón. Other co-conspirators remain in custody without any changes to their detention status.
