 |
| José Murat Casab (Illustration by Michael Hoeweler ) |
DD Note: Some members of the Mexican Congress must either read the New York Times or Borderland Beat. Tue. Feb10 The Times as part of series of investigative reports about corruption called "The Towers of Secrecy", published a story entitled "Mexican Political Family Has Close Ties to Ruling Party, and Homes in the U.S.". The next day, Wed. Feb11, Borderland Beat reporter Lucio posted the Times story here on Borderland Beat. Today the President of the Senate called for an inquiry into ex-Governor Murat and opposition members were asking why they had to read about the potential scandal in the newspapers and why Mexican intelligence agencies had not discovered the millions of dollars of condos apparently acquired while a public servant.
MEXICO CITY – Authorities must investigate former governor of Oaxaca, José Murat Casab, for potential misuse of public funds to buy six apartments in New York City through “front” companies, Senate President Miguel Barbosa Huerta ruled Monday.
Deputies from the National Action Party (PAN) and the Democratic Revolution Party (PRD) also demanded an investigation into the origins of Murat’s fortune, while the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) came to his defense, saying he should have the opportunity to explain his situation.
Although there is still no formal national anti-corruption system, there is a legal framework which allows for the establishment of guilt in such cases, said Barbosa Huerta.
There is no new national anti-corruption system, but there are existing laws and the legal framework which allows us to apportion blame against any public servant who has diverted public resources for personal gain. That is the current law, and it is sufficient to prosecute any public servant,” he said.
PAN spokesman Juan Pablo Adame Alemán, and his counterpart in the PRD, Miguel Alonso Raya, said in separate interviews that this is a matter which should be investigated by the new secretary of public service, Virgilio Andrade.
 |
| Virgilio Andrade with his close friend Enrique Pena Nieto |
Virgilio Andrade must review the legality of the funds and the buying of said properties, because, if he is guilty of a crime, Murat should receive the full punishment of the law, said Adame.
 |
| Row House Mx.City Murat lived in when elected to office |
 |
| NYTimes identified condos with ties to Murat near or fronting Central Park, NY City |
The PRD’s Miguel Alonso questioned the work of Mexican intelligence agencies, saying that U.S. newspapers should not have found out about the corruption before the Treasury Intelligence Unit.