After 12 hours of hearing, it was reported that until Friday at 5:00 p.m. the decision will be communicated regarding whether early release is granted to the former governor of Veracruz, Javier Duarte or if it is rejected.
During this Wednesday’s hearing, the Attorney General’s Office (FGR) presented witnesses to prevent the former president from being released, while Duarte spoke.
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The Prosecutor’s Office sought to prove the misconduct of the former governor of Veracruz to prevent him from being granted early release.
Since this Wednesday morning, in the North Prison, a hearing has been held, led by Judge Ángela Zamorano Herrera, to define whether to decree the early release of the former governor of Veracruz.
Accusations against Duarte
The benefit was requested by his defense because he has already served 95% of his sentence for use of resources of illicit origin.
The former president’s defense pointed out that it would be a matter of hours before his early release was ordered and there would only be administrative procedures pending for him to leave the prison, since he served most of the sentence that was imposed.
The former governor is accused because during his administration the diversion of at least 61 billion pesos of federal funds was proven, but his defense alleges that he is not directly charged.
In 2021, a new arrest warrant was issued for the crime of forced disappearance, for which Duarte processed several protections, and in 2024 a federal judge exonerated him from that case by pointing out that the confessions involving him were obtained under torture.
The former governor’s sentence expires in April 2026, so his defense seeks to be granted the benefit of early release after serving 95% of that sentence.
Prior to the hearing, Manuel Granados Quiroz, head of Relevant Affairs of the FGR, told the media that they would seek to prove the former president’s misconduct so that he could serve the entirety of his sentence.
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Federal prosecutors presented six witnesses at today’s hearing, among them four officials from the Veracruz Prosecutor’s Office, who recounted the actions that Duarte carried out to delay the hearings in which he was accused of forced disappearance, such as refusing to leave his cell, abandoning the proceedings with the argument of having an upset stomach, among other facts that would prove the misconduct.
On October 12, 2016, the then governor resigned from office and fled to Guatemala, in April 2017 he was detained in that country, and in July of that year he was extradited to Mexico, while in 2018 he was sentenced to nine years in prison, which is the lowest penalty for criminal association and money laundering and which ends next April, so it will be decided whether to grant him early release.