Mexico City — A federal judge has ordered former Veracruz governor Javier Duarte de Ochoa to stand trial for allegedly diverting 5 million pesos (approximately $5 million) in public funds, potentially extending his prison stay as he nears completion of a separate nine-year sentence.
The Federal Prosecutor’s Office accused Duarte of authorizing the use of resources originally designated for vulnerable populations, including children and elderly citizens, through a signed decree. Prosecutors allege the funds were transferred from the federal treasury to the state government and then redirected to other financial obligations, including payroll payments.
During the hearing, Duarte denied the allegations, arguing he did not directly manage the resources since he did not head the Finance and Planning Department. He maintained the funds in question were state allocations rather than federal money and claimed his administration prioritized discretionary resources. Duarte also stated there was no evidence proving federal funds were misappropriated.
This new indictment adds to Duarte’s 2018 conviction for money laundering and criminal association, for which he received a nine-year prison sentence. The former governor, originally from Córdoba and a member of the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), served as a federal deputy before becoming Veracruz’s governor in 2010, a position he held until 2016. His administration faced multiple investigations into alleged financial irregularities, including schemes involving shell companies and substantial diversions of public resources.
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