Judge rules against Emilio Lozoya and his wife

Before Mexican courthouses shutdown amid the COVID-19 pandemic, a judge denied Emilio Lozoya and Marielle Helene Eckes , his wife, an amparo against the arrest warrants a judge issued for their alleged involvement in the Odebrecht case; however, the verdict was announced today,

A Mexico City judge denied the requests filed by the former Pemex chief and his wife. This means Mexican authorities can arrest Marielle Helene Eckes.

Prosecutors accused Lozoya and his wife of conspiracy and money laundering . Moreover, Lozoya faces bribery accusations. He allegedly received bribes from the Brazilian construction company in exchange for government contracts once Enrique Peña Nieto took office.

Federal prosecutors said Marielle Helene Eckes received millions from Odebrecht and then used the money to purchase a luxurious property in Ixtapa Zihuatanejo, Guerrero.

Recommended: Company owned by Emilio Lozoya's wife is investigated for money laundering

Emilio Lozoya faces money laundering charges in connection with the Agronitrogenados case. Lozoya Austin allegedly received bribes from Alonso Ancira to approve the purchase of the fertilizer plant by Pemex.

Emilio Lozoya was bound over for trial for his involvement in the two corruption cases; however, a judge granted him parole and he is currently wearing an ankle monitor.

On several occasions, President López Obrador has said the former Pemex chief is a cooperating witness; however, the Attorney General’s Office hasn’t confirmed his status.

During the Agronitrogenados and Odebrecht hearings, Lozoya Austin pled not guilty and said he will reveal who was behind the corruption crimes.

Recommended: FGR guards house of Lozoya's wife in Ixtapa

German authorities investigate Emilio Lozoya and Marielle Helene Eckes

In July 2019, German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung; Tamedia, a Swiss media company, and Mexican media outlet 5° Elemento Lab, reported Emilio Lozoya was in Germany.

The report indicated that Münich authorities confirmed that they had launched an investigation against Lozoya and Marielle Helene Eckes. German authorities were trying to find out if the couple laundered money through several German companies.

Back then, insiders confirmed that Mexican officials asked the German Criminal Police (BKA) for information about Lozoya, contained in the millions of documents from the Mossack Fonseca law firm being guarded by German authorities, linked to the Panama Papers, a case Lozoya was also linked to.

Authorities investigate a company owned by Marielle Helene Eckes

Marielle Helene Eckes, who is married to Emilio Lozoya, associated with a lawyer who works for Altos Hornos de México (AHMSA) to create a company that was allegedly investigated for money laundering and bribery .

According to the information published by NGO Mexicans Against Corruption and Impunity, the Attorney General's Office found several links between Emilio Lozoya's family and operators from Altos Hornos de México.

According to the NGO, the relationship between Emilio Lozoya's family and AHMSA is quite close because a “lawyer who works for Altos Hornos de México partnered with the wife of the former Pemex director in a real estate company that is being investigated by authorities."

“According to the investigations, the wife of the former Pemex director associated with a lawyer that has worked for AHMSA and together they created a company named Yacani, whose bank accounts were intervened for suspicions of money laundering and fraud.”

Yacani was founded on November 25, 2014, by Marielle Helene Eckes, Lozoya's wife as a Mexican company with foreign investment from Germany , where she is from. The company provides real estate services and rentals.

“The investigations suggest that Yacani transferred resources from alleged unlawful origin and therefore, authorities ordered to block bank accounts owned by the company and Lozoya's wife.”

Tannia Beatriz López Abud, the partner and the legal representative of Yacani, has worked as a lawyer at AHMSA, according to documents.

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