- Title: Former Pemex boss arrives back in Mexico for graft trial, enters hospital
- Date: 17th July 2020
- Summary: MEXICO CITY, MEXICO (JULY 17, 2020) (REUTERS) ***WARNING: CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** VEHICLE TRANSPORTING FORMER PEMEX BOSS EMILIO LOZOYA, MEDIA AROUND VEHICLE ENTRANCE TO JAIL EXTERIOR OF JAIL POLICE VEHICLE OUTSIDE JAIL
- Embargoed: 31st July 2020 20:43
- Keywords: Mexico Pemex Petroleos Mexicanos President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador corruption extradition former Pemex boss Emilio Lozoya
- Location: MEXICO CITY + MANZANILLO, COLIMA + TULA, HIDALGO + VERACRUZ, MEXICO
- City: MEXICO CITY + MANZANILLO, COLIMA + TULA, HIDALGO + VERACRUZ, MEXICO
- Country: Mexico
- Topics: Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA001CN74UVB
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:A former boss of Mexico's state oil company Petroleos Mexicanos facing corruption charges that could envelop leaders of the last government was taken to a hospital early on Friday (July 17) shortly after his overnight extradition to Mexico from Spain.
Emilio Lozoya, wanted for alleged bribery and money laundering dating to his 2012-16 tenure in charge of the firm known as Pemex, entered the hospital soon after his arrival.
The attorney general's office reported that a medical exam found that the 45-year-old had developed anemia and esophagus problems, and was in a generally "weak" state.
Lozoya, who landed in a plane at Mexico City airport shortly before 1 a.m. local time (0600 GMT), denies wrongdoing.
Once a rising star of Mexican politics, Lozoya has become a key witness in President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador's drive to expose graft in and around the government he took over from his predecessor, Enrique Pena Nieto, in December 2018.
Lopez Obrador said Lozoya's trial would help shed light on and stigmatise acts of corruption in Mexico.
Under Mexican law, Lozoya must make an initial statement to a judge. Lopez Obrador said court proceedings would begin at midday. However, a government official told Reuters the hearing would now likely not take place on Friday.
On Friday morning, a convoy of SUVs took Lozoya from the airport to the Reclusorio Norte prison, Reuters images show. Wearing a black face mask, baseball cap, and flak vest, Lozoya kept his head bowed in the back seat of one of the vehicles.
Scion of a political family and former luminary of the annual World Economic Forum in Davos, Lozoya has agreed to give information on alleged acts of corruption under the government of Pena Nieto, according to Lopez Obrador.
That prospect has fed expectations that Lozoya may make damaging revelations about ex-colleagues and politicians to reduce any possible sentence. Pena Nieto denies wrongdoing.
Prosecutors say Lozoya solicited and obtained funds from Brazilian firm Odebrecht for Pena Nieto's 2012 presidential campaign. Pena Nieto won, defeating Lopez Obrador. In exchange, they contend, Lozoya awarded contracts to the firm as boss of Pemex and also took money for contracts from Mexican steelmaker Altos Hornos de Mexico.
Odebrecht has admitted paying bribes in Mexico. The bosses of Altos Hornos de Mexico have denied wrongdoing. Lawyers for Lozoya have said he acted under the orders of Pena Nieto.
Lopez Obrador has shied away from pointing the finger directly at Pena Nieto. But the leftist leader has suggested that Pena Nieto's landmark 2013-14 liberalization of the energy market, which Lopez Obrador strongly opposed, was tainted by corruption.
(Production: Carlos Carrillo, Josue Gonzalez, Luis Cortez, Paul Vieira, Rodolfo Pena Roja) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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