1st hearing in 'watershed' graft case of Mexico oil chief
Mark Stevenson, Associated Press
Updated 10:10 pm CDT, Tuesday, July 28, 2020
MEXICO CITY (AP) — A Mexican court held the first hearing Tuesday in what President Andrés Manuel López Obrador said would be a “watershed” corruption case against the former head of the state-owned oil company.
Emilio Lozoya, the former head of Petroleos Mexicanos, said through his lawyers that he had been “used” by “an organized apparatus of power” during the alleged corruption during his tenure at the head of the company, known as Pemex, from 2012 to 2016.
Lozoya did not identify that group, but the wording appeared to suggest he was ready to spill the beans on top officials in the administration of President Enrique Peña Nieto. The hearing wasn’t open to the public.
According to an informal synopsis of the session provided by the court system, Lozoya's lawyers said they would not argue against the prosecution's request to the judge that Lozoya be held over for trial on money-laundering charges. Lozoya has reportedly agreed to cooperate with prosecutors and will act as a protected witness in return for possible sentence reductions or elimination of charges.
More:
https://www.chron.com/news/article/1st-hearing-in-watershed-graft-case-of-Mexico-15439614.php
" A fellow of infinite jest," Mexico's favorite good-humor man, "Always leave them laughing" Lozoya!
