PGR takes 87 internal investigations to court

As part of an effort of Mexico's Attorney General's Office (PGR) to fight corruption, the agency is investigating its senior officers.

In the last five months the PGR has detected cases of illicit enrichment, conspiracy, extortion and abuses that undermine justice administration, such as the use "madrinas" (outsiders hired to perform internal duties).

In an interview with EL UNIVERSAL, César Alejandro Chávez Flores, head of the General Inspectorate, spoke about the crimes committed by some employees and made clear that there will be no room for impunity.

He explained that Attorney General Arely Gómez asked him to help reverse distrust of police and prosecutors in order to generate credibility.

From April to date, the General Inspectorate has taken 87 criminal investigations to court involving 126 public servants, among them 25 prosecutors, 42 officers of the Ministerial Federal Police, four senior managers, 12 middle managers and 29 administrative employees who allegedly committed various offenses.

Chávez added that so far, five cases of illicit enrichment have been taken to courts involving two prosecutors, two officers of the Ministerial Federal Police and one general director.

In other cases, a person was deceived into believing that he was being investigated with the purpose of extorting him, some bosses ask their subordinates to give them part of their per diem, citizens have been prevented from filing a complaint, criminals such as drug dealers have been asked to pay a bribe to avoid being investigated or criminals have been tipped off about imminent raids.

Also, there have been some cases of abuse of authority such as arresting people for longer than the legal term or excessive use of force that caused injuries. Chávez added that 52 cases of alleged torture are being investigated, even though so far no one has been prosecuted.