Probe into Mexican mayor’s alleged links to organized crime

(Vatican Radio) The arrested mayor of a southern Mexican city, where municipal police handed over 43 students to gangsters, is also being investigated for massive corruption, fraud and money laundering, with direct alleged links to organized crime.

Listen to the report by James Blears:

Former Iguala mayor Jose Luis Abarca and his wife, Maria de Los Angeles Pineda, are being questioned by prosecutors, who accuse them of a litany of crimes. They allege the couple owns more than 60 properties, plots of land and businesses in five Mexican states.

They also own the biggest shopping mall in the Iguala, which cost the equivalent of $22 million to build. Mexico's Ministries of Justice, Finance and the Securities Commission are investigating bank accounts abroad.

Officials say three of Pineada's brothers were members of the Beltran Levya drug cartel, and that the couple have direct links to the United Warriors gang to whom local police cravenly handed over 43 student teachers.

This happened on 26 September, following a demonstration. They have not been seen since.
Parents of the missing say Mexican authorities are poised to confirm that all of their sons and daughters have been massacred.