Mexico’s Supreme Court dismisses Karime Macías’ attempt to halt her extradition 

Mexico’s Supreme Court refused to admit a writ of amparo filed by Karime Macías , in an attempt to halt her extradition from the UK.

Karime Macías is Javier Duarte’s ex-wife. She fled the country after she and Duarte were accused of embezzling government funds.

Macías is wanted in Veracruz, where a judge asked her to testify in connection with the embezzlement of MXN 112 million.

In her writ of amparo, Macías argues the state prosecutor’s office tortured suspects to force them to testify against her.

Recommended: Federal judge halts the extradition of Karime Macías

Nevertheless, none of the ministers admitted the case.

In October 2019, Macías was arrested by UK authorities in London but she was released after paying an MXN 3.5 million bail.

A Westminster court will start an extradition trial against Karime Macías on November 16, 2020.

Since the woman fled Mexico to avoid her arrest, she has been living in one of the most exclusive and expensive London neighborhoods.

The family fortune

In 2019, EL UNIVERSAL reported that Karime Macías' family built an emporium that includes at least 80 companies that operate in Veracruz, Chiapas, Tabasco, and Quintana Roo. At least 40% of these companies were created by the family in 2004, the same year when Javier Duarte's political career took off.

Out of these 80 companies, Karime Macías' grandparents, parents, sister, and brother in law own 27 businesses. Moreover, some of her family members have been accused of being part of a shell company network used to divert resources when Duarte was governor and she was the head of the Veracruz DIF.

According to documents obtained by EL UNIVERSAL, the companies created by Macías' grandparents and parents started distributing photographic material but then moved towards the urbanization of land and while Duarte's political career grew, they opened several businesses in all kinds of sectors.

In the last 17 years, the family expanded their businesses to categories such as real state, agriculture, event planning, advertising, model agencies, imports and exports, drilling oil wells, as well as the controlling and sanitation of natural disasters.

Among these companies, only one is owned by Karime Macías: Cooperativa Magisterial del Sureste, created in 1997. It provided services and advice to public and private education institutions. In 2015 the company expanded to provide comprehensive business consulting in commercial, tax, labor, bank, financial, and computer matters.

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In August 1962, Karime Macías' grandparents, José Tubilla Tabche and Lilly Letayf, opened Foto Luz, in association with Víctor Tubilla, Carmen Estefan, and Víctor Tubilla Estefan.

Years later, the business opened several branches: Foto Luz Industrial, Foto Luz Servicios, Financiera Foto Luz, Foto Luz Comercial, Organización Luz, Foto Luz Corporación, Foto Luz Sureste. In alliance with Grupo MKT and MAC Electrónica, they started to distribute audio and video equipment, as well as electronic equipment.

After the expansion of Foto Luz, other family member joined the family business: Enrique Eduardo, José Carlos Tubilla and María Virginia Yazmín Tubilla Letayf, as well as Karime Macías' cousins, aunts, and uncles.

In 1968, José and Víctor Tubilla Tabche opened real state company Inmobiliaria Rodeco de Coatzacoalcos. The company had 26 shareholders and aimed at the purchase-sale, rent, and build urban properties.

Once Javier Duarte took office, the family businesses expand and registered a surge in profits.

Karime Macías & Javier Duarte

In February 2020, a judge dissolved the marriage between the former Veracruz Governor Javier Duarte de Ochoa, who is currently in jail, and Karime Macías Tubilla, who might be extradited to Mexico from London. The former couple reached an agreement that includes MXN 180,000 monthly payments in child support.

The Mexico City judge issued the verdict in October 2019, effectively ending the 20-year-marriage between the controversial couple.

Karime Macías and Javier Duarte agreed that Macías would get primary custody of their three children and Duarte will be able to visit them in London, England, where they have been residing for a few years. Moreover, the children will be able to travel to Mexico to visit their father.

On the other hand, the former Veracruz governor, who has been accused of watering down medicines for child cancer patients to divert resources, agreed to pay his ex-wife MXN 180,000 in child support each month.

Javier Duarte has been accused of diverting public resources and organized crime. He is currently serving a prison sentence.

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