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Thursday, May 23, 2013

Boxes of Money found in Tabasco related to "the looting"

Borderland Beat
VILLAHERMOSA, Tabasco - The head of the Attorney General of the state (PGJ), Fernando Valenzuela Pernas, exhibited yesterday afternoon what amounted to 88 million 560 thousand 134 pesos in cash seized from people linked to Jose Manuel Saiz Pineda, Secretary of Finance in the Andrés Granier Melo government of the state of Tabasco.

At a press conference, Valenzuela Pernas reported that investigations on the looting of Tabasco, led at 4:00 am to a house the Lomitas area in the municipality of Nacajuca about 15 miles north of the capital. They found five cardboard boxes filled with cash. Also seized two desktop computers and one laptop. 
In one cardboard box they found 500 bundles of 500 pesos notes, a second box 70 bundles of 500 pesos notes, in the third 10 packs of one thousand notes, two of one thousand and 500 peso  notes 18 more of 500 pesos notes and five of 200 pesos.

In the fourth box were found 23 bundles 500 peso notes and in the fifth box there were various banknotes of different denominations.

PGJ mentioned that so far 25 people have said linked to the looting Tabasco.

After the finding and based on statements of people involved, a warrant was requested, and at 14:00 hours entered the office of former Secretary of Finance, José Manuel Saiz Pineda, located at 1113 Sanchez Street Magallanes center of capital.

There was found and seized "abundant" documents and ledgers, presumably related to the ex-Governor Granier Melo's budget and to be audited by experts of the PGJ.
Ex-Governor Andrés Granier Melo called to testify  Photo: Eduardo Miranda
Pernas Valenzuela announced that on instructions from Governor Arturo Nunez Jimenez, the secured money will be deposited at the branch of Banjército of the capital, until the appropriate steps towards due diligence are taken..

At a press conference, the state leader of the PAN, Jorge Luis Avalos Ramon, and the local deputy Francisco Castillo Ramirez showcased a list of 19 properties, residences and lots appearing on behalf of the former governor Andrés Granier Melo in the Public Registry,
Among all these properties is included 850 square meters in Miramar Beach, in the coastal municipality of Centla, where the former governor built, in the middle of his term, a huge and luxurious mansion with pool and finest of finishes, according to photographs published by a local newspaper.

Current Governor Arturo Nunez of the opposition Democratic Revolution Party has repeatedly accused his predecessor of having left a public debt of millions of dollars and of representing Mexico's corrupt, old-style politics (PRI). 

Local media recently made public an audio recording in which Granier boasted about owning hundreds of suits, pairs of shoes and of only shopping at the best stores in Beverly Hills.

Former Governor Granier Melo later tried to save face by saying he was boasting about the things he doesn't have because he was drunk. 
Pernas Valenzuela official said that in the next 15 days, former collaborators of Granier Melo implicated in the embezzlement of the state coffers will be forced to appear.  Ex-Governor Granier Melo who is presently in Miami will be forced to appear as well as Saiz Pineda himself, and the ex-under secretary of the Secretariat of Finance, Miguel Angel Contreras..

Saiz Pineda and other former officials face charges before the PGR and the PGJ for the disappearance of over one thousand 900 million pesos stolen from education, public safety, federal healthcare programs, among others, led to the healthcare collapse late last year.
The Tabasco governor Nunez Jimenez has repeatedly denounced former governor Granier Melo's PRI tenure saying the state was the victim of "rapacious looting" that left a legacy of a 20 billion peso debt, when six years ago they barely reached 600 million pesos.

More experts from the Attorney General's Office (PGR) in the Tabasco Federal District will arrive this afternoon and assist in the accounting audits and continue with the investigation.

The federal Attorney General's Office has also opened an investigation into the handling of public funds by Granier, Interior Secretary Miguel Angel Osorio Chong told Radio Formula on Wednesday."We will investigate and get to the bottom of this," Osorio Chong said. 

He denied Granier is getting preferential treatment for being a member of the PRI.
"The investigation is going at the speed it needs to go," he said. "There are things being made public by the media but that doesn't mean they are evidence."

The PRI governed Mexico for 71 years and was seen as a party that encouraged corruption and authoritarianism. It lost the presidency for the first time in 2000 but it returned to power on Dec. 1 with Pena Nieto, who has said that his party has changed and that he will not stand for illegality.

Politicians and union leaders have not been shy about showing their extravagant homes and brand name clothes and jewelry despite their low salaries, leading many to suspect they were funding their flamboyant taste with public funds.

Sources: Tabascohoy,Proceso, Proceso,mysanantonio,Correo.

29 comments:

  1. I am so tired of such blatant disregard of the Mexican people by corrupt politicians. PRI was always corrupt and always will be corrupt. That is the sad reality. How will we ever get rid of them?

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  2. They should search other friends and family to locate more cartons of cash. Yes, they should really be ashamed. Just like that ugly, greedy, sticky fingered, despicable Imelda-like teacher? She is way naca, don 'cha thin, Havana? Bet 'cha do!

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  3. There was probably a lot more, but the amount keeps shrinking no matter how many times it's counted..

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  4. Pure greed, shame on them (the politicians) taking from the poor who need healthcare & education!

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  5. Que poca!? Verguuenza!����

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  6. That was a little obvious of him wasn't it? Alright I'll spell it out. STUPIDO!

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  7. Saiz spent tons of his money and everyone else's betting on fast horses and buying fast horses. What a grade A loser!

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  8. it pays to be corrupt in Mexico..

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  9. There will be some murders in the next couple of months.The money that was found was a partial amount.Mexico is soo corruptable,it makes Russia look good.They need to start charging taxes on every body.50 plus percent of national budget comes from Pemex!!!!what will happen when the oil runs out?More crimes and more corruption...The people want social services without paying taxes....not going to happen....

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  10. The amount seized from the house of people linked to ex-secretary of finance from the México state of Tabasco pales in comparison to the amount seized from the Chinese national Zhenli Yegon, I believe, by the authorities in 2007. In that seizure, the authorities seized $205 million U.S., 19 million pesos, and 4 million euros; however, that was money from proceeds related to the sale of methamphetamine precursor, not stolen state govt. money. I guess the legacy of corruption of the the dinosauric PRI party, Spanish viceroyalty, and dictators is alive and well in México. Some judge in México is going to come up with some bogus technicality and let the ex-administration of the state of Tabasco off the hook. Help they'll probably let that grandma "La Chunky" go too!

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    1. They'll let La Fea Chunky and probably the rest go cause they'll say something like the money was the receptionist's new used car money they were keeping for her because she doesn't trust banks.

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  11. Grandier Melo is such a total sleeze bag. People like him always seem to get away with everything and never end up in jail.

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    1. 6:34
      If you know how the bad get ahead when everyone says cheaters finish last, please tell me. Do they tell me that so I won't join the bad guys. I'm serious, please answer me!

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    2. I wish I could answer that because you sound sincere and dismayed. I don't have the answer for how the dishonest keep time and time again rising to the top, but we all see it. Life is truly unfair, we see that every day too.

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  12. People seem genuinely upset about this story like it hasn't always gone on with PRI in Mexico. It alwsys has and always will. Dishonesty runs so deep in PRI's veins, Mexicans have never trusted PRI and should make sure somehow that they never get in again.

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  13. It is usually bags of money, Isn't it Havana? You sure there weren't 5 bags of money? Even if they were boxes, they should have said bags to keep the corrupt politicians with bags of illicit funds going.

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  14. 500 Mexican Pesos = 40.17 USD

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  15. 900 Million Mexican Pesos = $72,309,930.46 USD

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    1. 1 billion 900 million Mx. Pesos equals $158,333,333 USD

      20 billion Mx. Pesos equals $1,670,000,000 USD

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  16. 90,000,000 Mexican Pesos = $7,230,993.05 USD

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  17. You added the big house and made the ex governor seem like even more of greedy idiot. You go Havana, we never accuse you of being shy with links or credits. You never are. All you BB are not in it for any other reason than getting the information out there. That, in my opinion, is why you are so popular. Thank you BB. I'm a real fan.

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  18. Keep reporting on this case bb and all others like it. Spread the word of this corruption to help end or reduce corruption. Lack of a consequence for those responsible will only fan the flames of discontent and revolution.The only real thing that might save Mexico.

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  19. ese jijo de perra!! es un bastardo!!!

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  20. Did you read that quote about him boasting about what he didn't have. That's incredible. No politician can ever really surprise Americans or Mexicans. Look at the US Senatotr who 'social mediad' photos of his wiener all over thw world, resigns, takes two years off to meditate over it, and is now back planning to run for mayor of NYC. Yup. Anthony Wiener!Politicians are a class all their own -Classless

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  21. Thanks for the exchange and math. It puts it into perspective.Tons o' dough!

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  22. It is ironic that they worry about the mistreatment of Mexican immigrants in the US when they abuse them every which way to Sunday.

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  23. Peace out crackheads dont silence me like chivis does

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  24. Where did you think the cartels got there ideas from

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  25. Thank you so much, BB. Your insight and reporting is an important public service. I been following BB for a few years now, and consider BB part of my daily reading, along with BBC, NY Times, LA Times, Etc.

    This article that focuses on official corruption is sorely needed. To better understand Mexico and the growth of the Cartels. I hope there will be more analysis and reporting on official corruption. Your readers will be astounded and enlightened.

    Again, Thank You,

    A "Self-deported American", living and enjoying life in Western mexico

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