By: Sayra Casillas Mendoza | Translated by Valor for Borderland Beat
Morelia, Michoacán— The Sixth District Judge located in Uruapan decided to modify the precautionary measure of pretrial detention for 29 Tumbiscatío autodefensas, so they may be able to continue their criminal proceedings while they are freed if they meet the five new precautionary measures imposed on them.
Such measures to be met are:
- To not leave the state
- To not meet with armed groups
- Present themselves to the court to sign once a month
- Posting bail: 120,000 pesos ($6,399 USD)
- To not approach witnesses
In an interview with Cambio de Michoacán, the lawyer of this group of autodefensas, Ignacio Mendoza Jiménez, considered bail to be a very high amount of money, so he anticipates a possible appeal.
He added that he would ask the governor, Silvano Aureoles Conejo, to give these people the same amount of compensation (90,000 pesos ($4,799 USD) granted in February to former autodefensas to have the possibility to start a productive project.
“Let them support the bond…they are people that don’t have financial resources, who served the state and were arrested on May 9 when they still had permission from Castillo, even though he denies it, to be armed,” he said.
He emphasized that the decision of the judicial authority leaves a good precedent for the rest of the autodefensas, including José Manuel Mireles.
These 29 autodefensas were arrested on May 9, 2014, and are prosecuted for bearing arms for the exclusive use of the Mexican Army.
Source: Cambio De Michoacán