Spanish judge orders release of Alonso Ancira while he awaits extradition

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This morning, the Attorney General’s Office (FGR) in Mexico informed that the Central Investigative Judge from the National High Court of Spain ordered the release on bail of Alonso Ancira, head of Mexican steel company Altos Hornos de México, S.A. (AHMSA), with bail set at €1 million .

Through a press release, the Attorney’s Office informed that the Spanish judge also determined that the suspect must appear before court, a tribunal, or designated address every two days. He will be banned from leaving Spain and both his Mexican and U.S. passports shall be revoked. Moreover, Spanish authorities will provide him with a mobile phone for location purposes.

Mexico’s FGR assured through a press release that the court’s ruling in no way implied that Ancira had been acquitted of criminal charges brought against him.

“It is important to emphasize that the extradition process will continue as planned . The only notable effect of the judge’s ruling is that Alonso Ancira will now be allowed to follow the legal process in liberty, as long as he complies with all conditions set for his release,” the FGR stated, adding that the request for interim release had been granted because “the Mexican law allows it and for reasons of proportionality regarding the precautionary measure.”

On May 28 , Interpol officials and Spanish authorities arrested Ancira at the Palma de Mallorca airport in compliance with an international arrest warrant issued by the Mexican government for tax fraud and corruption.

The Mexican government issued the warrant based on an investigation by the FGR and the Financial Intelligence Unit (UIF) , which indicated that the suspect had conducted irregular transfers from AHMSA to offshore accounts linked to the Brazilian construction company Odebrecht and former Pemex director Emilio Lozoya Austin .

Ancira faces allegations related to the irregular sale of a fertilizer plant to Pemex during the management of Emilio Lozoya. The state oil company paid a premium estimated at around MXN$500 million (USD$26.1 million) for the plant, which was still not operating this year, according to a scathing government audit of the 2017 operations of Pemex.