Bail denied for Reynoso Femat

Judge Jaime Páez Díaz denied bail to former governor Luis Armando Reynoso Femat, accused of fiscal fraud, in response to an appeal by the public prosecutor under the argument that the suspect can be guilty of other crimes.

Reynoso Femat requested his freedom on recognizance for a number of times during his presentation before the judge in the office of the national judiciary, but the judge denied it "for the moment" and the former governor of Aguascalientes was sent back to a prison in that city.

Reynoso Femat also invoked his right to not declare and asked for an extension of the period of 144 hours for the presentation of evidence for his defense.

The authorities, on the other hand, pointed out that the suspect is facing other accusations and requested his freedom to be denied.

Reynoso Femat is also facing charges for ordinary crimes, embezzlement and improper performance of duties against the state. He was arrested for those charges on May 2 and paid a series of fines.

The former governor is accused of fiscal fraud, for not reporting US$1.84 million in earnings during 2009, and not paying more than US$495,000 in taxes. For those charges, Reynoso Femat was arrested on Thursday night by agents from the Office of the Attorney General (PGR) in León, Guanajuato.